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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

BUREAU OF FISHERIES 

HUGH M. SMITH, Commissioner 




PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES 



By JOHN N. COBB 



APPENDIX I TO THE REPORT OF THE U. S. COMMISSIONER 
OF FISHERIES FOR 1921 




Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 902 



THIRD EDITION 



PRICE, 35 CENTS 

Sold only by the Sup>erintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office 
Washington. D. C. 



WASHINGTON 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

1921 






LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
DOCUMtNTS LriViSION 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES.' 



By John N. Cobb. 



CONTENTS. 

Page. 

Introduction 6 

The species of salmon and the runs 6 

Chinook, quinnat, or king salmon 7 

Sockeye, blueback, or red salmon 8 

Silver or coho salmon 10 

Humpback or pink salmon 10 

Dog or chum salmon 11 

Steelhead trout 11 

Age of salmon at maturity 12 

Marking salmon 13 

Ocean home of the salmon 16 

Fishing grounds and history of the fisheries 18 

Washington 18 

Columbia River 25 

Oregon 31 

California 34 

Alaska 37 

Southeast Alaska 37 

Prince William Sound and Copper River 49 

Cook Inlet 50 

Afognak Island 51 

Kodiak Island 52 

Chignik Bay 55 

Alaska Peninsula, south side 57 

Shumagin and Sannak Islands 57 

Bering Sea 58 

Nushagak River and Bay 58 

Kvichak River and Bay 61 

Naknek River 62 

Ugaguk River 63 

Ugashik River 63 

Alaska Peninsula, Bering Sea side 65 

Kuskokwim River 66 

Yukon River 66 

Miscellaneous places 67 

Arctic Ocean 67 

British Columbia 67 

Salmon fishing in the headwaters 74 

Apparatus and methods of the fisheries 75 

Gill nets 75 

Haul seines 76 

Diver nets 77 



o Appendix I to the Report of the U. S. Comniissioner of Fisheries for 1921. B. F. Doc. No. 902. 

8 



4 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Apparatus and methods of the fisheries — Continued. Page. 

Dip nets 77 

Squaw nets 77 

Purse seines 78 

Traps or pound nets 79 

Indian traps 82 

Wheels 83 

Reef nets 84 

Trolling 86 

Bow and arrow 89 

Spear and gaff 90 

Sport fishing for salmon 90 

Dangers to the industry 91 

Fishing season in Alaska 95 

Fishermen and other employees 96 

Fishermen... 96 

Cannery labor. ."*. ". 97 

Nationalities 97 

Chinese contract system 98 

Fisheries of boundary waters 100 

Washington and Oregon 100 

Washington and British Columbia 103 

Decrease in sockeye salmon run 104 

American-Canadian Fisheries Conference 106 

Decrease in humpback salmon catch 110 

Packs by Canadian and American canners Ill 

Methods of preparing salmon Ill 

Canning Ill 

Early days of the industry Ill 

Handling the salmon 114 

Dressing 115 

Cutting 115 

Salting 116 

Filling the cans 118 

Cooking 118 

Repairing cans 119 

Lacquering 119 

Labeling 121 

Brands 121 

Boxing or casing 123 

Can making 123 

Canning smoked salmon 124 

Home canning 124 

Inspection of plants packing canned salmon 125 

Investigation of canned salmon industry 126 

Mild curing 129 

Pickling 133 

Dry salting 134 

Smoking 134 

Freezing 136 

Utilizing salmon eggs and melt 139 

Miscellaneous products - 1 40 

Meal, fertilizer, and oil 141 

Shipping fresh salmon direct to consumer 142 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 6 

Pago. 

Nutritive qualities of salmon 143 

Analyees of canned and fresh Pacific salmon 143 

Analyses of canned salmon by South Dakota authorities 144 

Analysis of salted salmon 146 

Statistics of the salmon output 146 

Salmon catch in 1918 146 

Bristol Bay waters salmon catch, 1913 to 1917 149 

Pack of canned salmon in 1919 150 

Canning industry, 1864 to 1919 152 

Summary of canning industry 152 

Canning industry, by species and waters 153 

Market prices for canned salmon 1 75 

American opening prices 176 

British Columbia opening prices 179 

Pickling industry «. 180 

Mild-curing industry 182 

Yukon Territory, Canada 183 

Trade with outlying possessions 183 

Hawaii 184 

Porto Rico 184 

Philippine Islands 184 

Alaska 185 

Guam 185 

Tutuila, Samoa 185 

Foreign trade in salmon 185 

Exports of domestic canned salmon 186 

Exports of domestic fresh and cured salmon 195 

Imports of fresh salmon 201 

Imports of cured salmon 202 

Exports of Canadian canned salmon 203 

Salmon culture 203 

. Obtaining the spawning fish 203 

Taking the eggs 204 

Fertilizing the eggs 205 

Hatching apparatus and methods 206 

Handling eggs in hatchery 207 

Removal of dead eggs l)y the use of salt solution 208 

Feeding and planting the fry 211 

Packing eggs for shipment 211 

Rearing salmon fry 211 

Food 212 

Salmon sold after stripping 213 

Salmon hatcheries on the Pacific coast 213 

General statistics 214 

Acclimatizing Pacific salmon in other waters 218 

California 220 

History 220 

Output 222 

Distribution 224 

Oregon 228 

Hatcheries on coastal streams 228 

Distribution 229 



6 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Salmon culture — Continued. Page. 

Columbia River and tributaries 233 

Washington 237 

British Columbia 244 

Alaska 247 

The salmon fisheries of Siberia 253 

Species of salmon 254 

Fishing districts 254 

Fishery rights and regulations 255 

Apparatus employed 257 

Abundance of salmon 258 

Freezing salmon 259 

Canning salmon 260 

Salting salmon 263 

The salmon fisheries of Japan 265 

Canning industry 266 

Fishery methods 267 

Fish culture 268 

INTRODUCTION. 

The most valuable commercial fisheries in the world, excepting 
only the oyster and herring fisheries, are those supported by the salm- 
ons. Of these the most important by far are the salmon fisheries 
of the Pacific coast of North America, where California, Oregon, 
Washington, and Alaska, including also British Columbia, possess 
industries representing millions of dollars of investment and millions 
of output annually. In Siberia the fishery is increasing in impor- 
tance annually as means of transportation become better, while Japan 
is also becoming a large factor in the salmon markets of the world 
through her investments in the salmon fisheries of Siberia and, to a 
lesser extent, through fisheries prosecuted in her own waters. 

In this third edition of the report*^ considerable new material has 
been added, while some chapters have been entirely remodeled and 
materially enlarged. The statistical data have been brought up to 
January 1, 1920. The author is indebted to the Pacific Fisherman, 
of Seattle, Wash., for certain illustrations and to George C. Teal for 
permission to use his copyrighted picture shown as figure 11. Most 
of the illustrations are from pictures taken by the author. 

THE SPECIES OF SALMON AND THE RUNS. 

The Pacific coast salmons are all included in the genus Oncorhyn- 
chus. With them the fishermen incorrectly class the steelhead trout, 
which really belongs to the closely related genus Salmo. 

As long ago as 1731 the species of Oncorhynchus were first made 
known by Steller, who, almost simultaneously with Krascheninikov, 
another early investigator, distinguished them with perfect accuracy 
under their Russian vernacular names. In 1792 Walbaum adopted 
these vernacular names in a scientific nomenclature for these fishes. 

a First edition : The Salmon Fisheries of the Pacific Coast. By John N. Cobb. U.S. Bureau of Fisheries 
Document No. 7.51, 180 pp. Washington, 1911. 

Second edition: l^acific Salmon Fisheries. By John N.Cobb. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Document 
No. 839, Appendix III, Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1916/255 pp., 29 pis. Washington, 1917. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 2.— CHINOOK SALMON. BREEDING MALE. 




FIG. 3.— SOCKEYE SALMON. ADULT MALE. 




FIG. 4.— COHO SALMON. BREEDING MALE. 



U. S. B. F. — Doc. 902. 




FIG. 5.— CHUM SALMON. BREEDING MALE. 



^\ 




FIG. 6.— HUMPBACK SALMON. ADULT MALE. 




FIG. 7.— STEELHEAD TROUT. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 7 

Five species of salmon (Oncorhynchus) are found in the waters 
of the north Pacific, ranging northward from Monterey Bay on 
the American coast and Japan on the Asiatic, the extreme northern 
distribution of certain of the species liaving not yet been accurately 
determined. The five species are: (1) Oncorhynchus tschawytscha, 
quinnat, tyee, chinook, spring, or king salmon; (2) Oncorhynchus 
nerlca, blueback, red, sukke^h, or sockeye salmon; (3) Oncorhynchus 
Icisutch, silver, colio, or white salmon; (4) Oncorhynchus keta, dog, 
keta, or chum salmon; and (5) Oncorhynchus gorhuscha, humpback or 
pink salmon. 

CHINOOK, QUINNAT, OR KING SALMON. 

The largest, best known, and most valuable of these is the chinook 
or king salmon {0. tschawytscha) . It is found throughout the region 
from the Ventura River, Calif., to Norton Sound, Alaska, and on the 
Asiatic coast as far south as northern China. As knowledge extends, 
it will probably be recorded in the Arctic. 

In the spring the body is silvery, tlie back, dorsal fin, and caudal 
fin having more or less of round black spots, and the sides of the 
head havmg a peculiar tin-colored metallic luster. In the fall the 
color is, in some places, black or dirty red. The fish has an average 
weight of about 22 pounds, but individuals weighing 70 to over 100 
pounds are occasionally taken. One was caught near Klawak, 
Alaska, in 1909, which weighed 101 pounds without the head. The 
Yukon River is supposed to produce the finest examples, although 
this supposition is not based on very reliable observations. The 
southeast Alaska fish average as high as 23 pounds in certain sea- 
sons, followed by an average of about 22 pounds in the Columbia 
River and about 16 pounds in the Sacramento. 

In most places the flesh is of a deep salmon red, but in certain 

g laces, notably southeast Alaska, Bristol Bay, Puget Sound, and 
British Columbia, many of the fish, the proportion being sometimes 
as much as one-third of the catch, have white flesh. A few examples 
have been taken with one side of the body red and the other white, 
while some are found with mottled flesh. No reasonable explanation 
of this phenomenon has yet been given. 

In its southern range the quinnat strikes in at Monterey Bay in 
sufficient numbers to justify commercial fishing about the middle of 
April, where it is seen feeding upon the inshore moving schools of 
herring and sardines, continuing until in August. There are two 
runs of spawning fish in the Sacramento, the first or "spring run" 
beginning in April and continuing throughout May and June, these 
fish spawning mainly in the cold tributaries of the Sacramento, such 
as the McCloud and Fall Rivers. The second or "fall run" occurs 
in August, September, and October, and these fish spawn in the 
riffles in the main river between Tehama and Redding, also entering 
the tributaries in that vicinitj. The two runs merge into each other. 
It is also claimed that there is a third run which comes in December. 

In former years the San Joaquin and the American and Feather 
Rivers of the Sacramento system had large runs of salmon, but ex- 
cessive fishing and the operation of various mining and irrigation 
projects have practically depleted them. 

The Eel and Mad Rivers of northern California have only a late 
or fall run, while the Klamath River has both a spring and a fall 



8 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

run, and Smith River has a spring run alone. Rogue River in 
Oregon has both a spring and a fall run, and the Umpqua and several 
other coast streams of Oregon have small early runs. 

The Columbia River has three runs, the first entering during 
January, February, and March, and spawning mainly in the Clack- 
amas and neighboring streams. The second, which is the best run, 
enters during May, June, and part of July, spawning mainly in the 
headwaters. The third run occurs during late July, August, Sep- 
tember, and part of October, and spawns in the tributaries of the 
lower Columbia. 

In Puget Sound chinook salmon are found throughout the year, 
although it is only during the spawning season that they are very 
abundant. In the Fraser River, a tributary of the Sound, the run 
occurs from March to August. 

In the vSkeena River^ British Columbia, the run occurs from May 
to July, the same being approximately true of the Nass also. 

In southeast Alaska they are found aU months of the year. From 
March to the middle of June they are abundant and feeding in the 
numerous straits and sounds; in May and June the spawning fish 
enter the Unuk, Stikine, Taku, Chilkat, Alsek, and Copper Rivers 
in large numbers, and in a few smaller streams in lesser abundance. 
In August, September, and October they are again to be found in 
large numbers feeding in the bays and sounds, while during the 
winter months a few have been taken on trawls set for halibut, 
showing that they are living in the lower depths at this time. 

In Cook Inlet the run occurs during May and June and is com- 
posed wholly of red-meated fish; in the rivers of Bristol Bay the run 
comes in June and July, principally in the first-named month, and 
the same is true of the Togiak, Kuskokwim, and Yukon Rivers, the 
late appearance of the fish in the upper courses of the Yukon being 
due to the immense distance the fish have to cover. 

SOCKEYE, BLUEBACK, OR RED SALMON. 

The red or blueback salmon {0. nerJca), which forms the greatest 
part of the canned salmon of the world, when it first comes in 
from the sea is a clear bright blue above in color, silvery below. Soon 
after entering the river for the purpose of spawning the color of the 
head changes to a rich olive, the back: and sides to crimson, and finally 
to a dark blood red, and the beUy to a dirty white. The maximum 
weight is about 12 pounds, and length 3 feet, with the average weight 
about 5 pounds, varying greatly, however, in different localities. 
Observations of Chamberlain ° in Alaska show that the average 
weight of a number of sockeyes taken from Yes Bay was 8.294 pounds, 
while the average weight of a number from Tamgas was only 3.934 
pounds. Evermann and Goldsborough * report as a result of the 
weighings of 1,390 red salmon, taken from as many different places 
in Alaska as possible, an average weight for the males of 7.43 pounds; 
for the females, 5.78 pounds; or an average weight for both sexes of 
6.57 pounds. A run of smaO, or dwarf, males accompanies certain 
of the main runs, being especially noticeable in the Chignik Lagoon 

a Some Observations on Salmon and Trout in Alaska. By F. M. Chamberlain, naturalist, U.S. Fisheries 
steamer Albatross. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 627, p. 80, Washington, 1907. 

''The Fishes of Alaska. By B. W. Evermann and E. L. Goldsborough. Bulletin, U. S. Bureau of 
Fisheries, 1906, Vol. XXVI, p. 257. Washington, 1907. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 9 

(Alaska) run. This species usually enters streams with accessible 
lakes in their courses. 

These fish are occasionally found landlocked in certain lakes, 
especially in the State of Washiiigton, and are always much smaller 
in size than the sea-run fish. In Bumping Lake, near North Yakima, 
Wash., they are quite abundant and are mature when about a pound 
in weight. Despite the fact that these fish have a soft mouth, anglers 
consider them very gamey. They take bait, the fly, and the trolling 
spoon. Large numbers are hatched and distributed by the Washing- 
ton Fish and Game Commission under the name of "silver trout." 

A few specimens of the sockeye have been taken as far south as 
the Sacramento River. In Humboldt County, Calif., small runs are 
said to occur in Mad and Eel Rivers, while 20 sockeyes are reported 
as having been taken in the Klamath River in the autumn of 1915. 
Only an occasional specimen appears in the coastal streams of Oregon. 
The Columbia is the most southern river in which this species is 
known to run in any considerable numbers, entering the river with 
the spring run of chinooks. From here south the species is called 
blueback exclusively. A considerable run enters the Quinault River, 
Wash., and there is also a small run in Ozette Lake, just south of 
Cape Flattery. 

In the Puget Sound region, where it is known as the 'sockeye, 
this species ascends only the Skagit River in commercial numbers, 
although a small run appears in the Lake Washington system of 
lakes and, possibly, in the Snohomish, StiUaguamish, and Nooksack 
Rivers. 

At one time the greatest of all the sockeye streams was the Fraser 
River, British Columbia, a stream famous from very early days for 
its enormous runs of this species, a peculiar feature of which is that 
there is a marked quadrennial periodicity in the run. The maximum 
run occurs the year following leap year, the minimum on the year 
following that. The greater part of the catch of the Puget wSound 
fishermen is made from this run as it is passing through Washington 
waters on its way to the Fraser. The fish strike in during July and 
August on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, apparently coming 
from the open sea to the northwest. They pass through the Straits 
of Juan de Fuca, Rosario, and Georgia, spending considerable time 
in the passage and about the moutli of the river. Small numbers 
run as early as May and as late as October, but the main body enters 
about the first week in August. 

The sockeye occurs in most of the coastal streams of British 
Columbia, and is usually the most abundant species. The principal 
streams frequented are the Skeena, Rivers Inlet, Nass, Lowe Inlet, 
Dean Channel, Namu Harbor, Bella Coola, Smith Inlet, Alert Bay, 
and Alberni Canal. 

In Alaska, where this fish is generally known as the red salmon, 
it is abundant and runs in great numbers in all suitable streams, 
of which the following are the most important: In southeast Alaska, 
Boca de Quadra, Naha, Yes Bay, Thorne Bay, Karta Bay, Nowiskay, 
Peter Johnson, Hessa, Hetta, Hunter Bay, Klawak, Kedfish Bay, 
Stikiue, Taku, Chilkoot, Chilkat, Alsek, Situk, Ankow, etc.; in 
central Alaska, Copper, Knik, Kenai, Susitna, ^\iognak, Karluk, 
Alitak, Chignik; and in the Bristol Bay region, the Ugashik, Ugaguk, 
Naknek, Kvichak, Nushagak, and Wood. It is also supposed to 



10 tJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

occur in small numbers in the Togiak, Kuskokwim, and Yukon 
Rivers, which debouch into Bering Sea, and possibly occurs in the 
Arctic streams of Alaska. The run in western Alaska begins usually 
early in June and extends usually to the middle of August, the bulk 
of the run occurring in the first three weeks of July. It begins earlier 
in Prince William Sound, however, and sometimes extends into Sep- 
tember in southeast Alaska. The duration of the run averages about 
the same in each section. 

SILVER OR COHO SALMON. 

The silver or coho salmon {0. kisutch) is silvery in spring, greenish 
on the upper parts, where there are a few faint black spots. In the 
fall the males are mostly of a dirty red. The flesh in this species is 
of excellent flavor, but paler in color than the red salmon, and hence 
less valued for canning purposes. The maximum weight is about 30 
pounds, with ageneral average of about 6 pounds. 

The silver salmon is found as far south as Monterey Bay, where 
it appears during the month of July, and is taken by the troUers. 
From Eel River, in California, north, it is found in most of the 
coastal streams. It usually appears in July, and runs as late as 
November, the time of appearance and disappearance varying some- 
what in different sections. Owing to its late appearance compara- 
tively few, and they usually in the early part of the season, are packed 
by the canneries, niost of which shut down in August and September. 
This fish also tarries but a short time about the mouth of the stream 
it is to enter, and is wary of nets, which makes it rather unprofitable 
to fish for the latter part of the season when it is running alone. 

HUMPBACK OR PINK SALMON. 

The humpback or pink salmon {0. gorhuscha), the smallest of 
American species, weighs from 3 to 11 pounds, the average being 
about 4 pounds. Its color is bluish above, silvery below, the posterior 
and upper parts with many round ])iack spots, the caudal fin always 
having a few large black spots oblong in shape. The males in fall 
are dirty red and are very much distorted in sliape, a decided hump 
appearing on the back, from which deformity tlie species acquires 
its name. The flesh is pale, hence its canned name, "pink" salmon. 

The southern limit of the fish is the San Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz 
County, but only occasional specimens are found here and in the 
rivers to the northward until Puget Sound is reached. Here a large 
run appears every other year, the only place on the coast where such 
is the case. 

The humpback occurs in varying abundance in the waters of 
British Columbia, but it is in the waters of southeast Alaska that it 
appears in its greatest abundance. Many of the canneries in this 
region and some of those operating in central Alaska depend mainly 
upon the humpback for their season's pack, and the canned product 
now occupies an excellent position in the markets of the world. 
The fish spawn in nearly all of the small, short streams. 

In western Alaska the runs are much smaller and the humpback 
is not much sought after by the cannery men, who are usually able 
to fill their cans with the more valuable species. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 11 

In southeast Alaska the run begins in June and continues until 
September. In western Alaska the period is somewhat shorter. In 
Puget Sound it continues until late in the fall, although but few are 
taken after September 15. 

DOG OR CHUM SALMON. 

The dog or chum salmon {0. heta) reaches a maximum weight of 
16 pounds, the average being about 8 pounds. When it first appears 
alonw the coast it is dirty silvery, immaculate or sprinkled with 
small black specks, the fins dusky, the sides with faint traces of 

fridironlike bars. Later in the season the male is brick red or 
lackish, and its jaws are greatly distorted. Its llesh is light yellow, 
especially w^hen canned, it is especially good for freezing, salting, 
and smoking. 

This species has a wnde distribution. It is found as far south as 
San Lorenzo River, Santa Cruz County, Calif., but is not utilized 
commercially in California except on Eel River. It is found in most 
of the coastal streams from here north, bein^ especially abundant 
from Puget vSound northward to southeast Alaska, both inclusive. 
In this region it is being utlized in greater abundance each year, as 
the market for it widens. 

In central, western, and arctic Alaska the species occurs in varying 
abundance, but it is utilized sparingly, except by the natives, with 
whom it is the favorite species dried for winter food for their dogs. 

The run of dog salmon comes later than that of any other species 
except the coho. In Alaska it begins in June, but the height of the 
season docs not occur until late in August or early in September, and 
fish are found as late as November. In Puget Sound they run from 
about the middle of August till late in November, and practically 
the same is true in the Columbia River. 

STEELHEAD TROUT. 

The steelhead trout (Salmo gairdniri) is commonly classed as one 
of the salmons by the fishermen of the Pacific coast, and it has been 
included in this report on this account. It is said to have received 
its common name from the hardness of the skull, several blow^s of 
the club being rec{uired to kill the salmon when taken into the boat. 
In different localities the average weight is placed at from 8 to 15 
pounds, while extreme sizes reach 45 pounds. The excellent quality 
of its flesh causes it to be highly prized for the fresh and frozen 
markets, but owing to its pale color only limited quantities are canned. 

The principal c( nter of abundance of this species is the Columbia 
River. It is found fromCarmel River, Calif., north to central Alaska, 
and possibly has an even wider range in Alaska. As a result of 
extensive plants made during the last five or six years the range has 
been much extended on the Pacific coast as w^ell as elsewhere in this 
country. It seems to be found in the rivers during the greater part 
of the year. In the Columbia River the spawning season is from 
February to May, in Puget Sound in the spring, and in southeast 
Alaska in May and June. The best commercial fishing is in January, 
February, and March. In California the catching of this species is 
restricted to hook and line fishing. 



12 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

AGE OF SALMON AT MATURITY. 

As practically all salmon which have the opportunity spawn but 
once and then die, knowledge of the age at which this occurs is of 
great interest both from an economic and scientific standpoint. 
Many attempts have been made to solve the problem with the sockeye 
and king salmon, the most important commercially of the five species, 
by means of marking artificially reared fry, usually by clipping 
one of their fins before they are liberated, as noted elsewhere in this 
report, but with unsatisfactory results. 

Fortunately, certain experiments carried on in Tomales Bay, Calif., 
and in New Zealand, where king fry were planted in streams not 
frequented by the species in question and the return of the adults 
noted, have yielded some interesting and accurate information on 
the subject. These indicated that the age was four or more years, 
as no run w^as reported until the fourth year. 

A more certain method of determining the age of salmon has been 
developed in recent years through the adaptation by American 
scientists of the discovery by European investigators that the ridges 
observed on the scales of certain fishes indicated a period of growth 
of the animal itself. 

Dr. Charles H. Gilbert, of Stanford University, as early as 1910, 
applied this method to the determination of the age of the various 
species of Pacific salmon. As to its application to the Pacific salmon 
and the general method followed, Dr. Gilbert has the following to say: 

While the method is new as regards Pacific sahnon, it has been experimentally 
tested and fully approved by the Fisheries Board of Scotland in the case oi the Atlantic 
salmon, and is now universally accepted as furnishing reliable data as to the age and 
many other facts in the life history of that fish. It has been shown to be applicable 
also to various species of trout, and its value has been demonstrated in fishes as widely 
divergent as the carp, the eel, the bass, the flounder, and the cod. Descriptions of 
this scale structure and its significance have appeared in a large number of papers, 
both scientific and popular. It will suffice here to repeat that the scale in general 
persists throughout life, and grows in proportion with the rest of the fish, principally 
by additions around its border. At intervals there is produced at the growing edge 
a delicate ridge upon the surface of the scale, the successive ridges thus formed being 
concentric and subcircular in contour, each representing the outline of the scale at a 
certain period in its development. Many of these ridges are formed in the course of 
a year's growth, the number varying so widely in different individuals and during 
successive years in the history of the same individual that number alone can not be 
depended on to determine age. For this purpose we rely upon the fact that the fish 
grows at widely different rates during different seasons of the year, spring-summer 
being a period of rapid growth and fall-winter a season when growth is gi'eatly retarded 
or almost wholly arrested. During the period of rapid growth the ridges are widely 
separated, while during the slow growth of fall and winter the ridges are crowded 
closely together, forming a dense band. Thus it comes that the surface of the scale 
is mapped out in a definite succession of areas, a band of widely spaced rings always 
followed by a band of closely crowded rings, the two together constituting a single 
year's growth. That irregularities occur will not be denied, and this is natural, 
inasmuch as growth may be checked by other causes than the purely seasonal one. 
Also a considerable experience is requisite for the correct interpretation in many 
cases, and a small residue of doubtful significance has always remained. This element 
is too small to affect the general results, and further investigation will almost certainly 
eliminate the doubtful cases altogether." 

a Age at Maturity of the Pacific Coast Salmon of the Genus Oncorhynchus. By Charles H. Gilbert 
Bulletin, U. S. Bureau of Fisheries, 1912, Vol. XXXII, pp. 1, 5. Washington, 1913. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 13 

As a result of his investigations up to this point, Dr. Gilbert pre- 
sented the following conclusions drawn from tue data collected: 

1. The sockeye spawns normally either in its fourth or fifth year, the king salmon 
in its fourth, fifth, sixth, or seventh year, the females of both species being preponder- 
atingly 4-year fish. 

2. The young of both sockeye and king salmon may migrate seaward shortly after 
hatching, or may reside in fresh water until their second spring. Those of the first type 
grow more rapidly than the second, but are subject to greater dangers and develop 
proportionately fewer adults. 

3. Coho salmon spawn normally only in their third year. The young migrate either as 
fry or yearlings, but adults are developed almost exclusively from those which migrate 
as yearlings. 

4. Dog salmon mature normally either in their third, fourth, or fifth years, the 
humpback always in their second year. The young of both species pass to sea as soon 
as they are free swimming. 

5. The term "grilse," as used for Pacific salmon, signifies conspicuously undersized 
fish which sparingly accompany the spawning run. They are precociously developed 
in advance of the normal spawning period of the species. So far as known, the grilse 
of the king salmon, coho, and dog salmon are exclusively males; of the sockeye, almost 
exclusively males, except in the Columbia River, where both sexes are about equally 
represented. The larger grilse meet or overlap in size the smaller of those individuals 
which mature one year later at the normal period. 

6. Grilse of the sockeye are in their third year, of the king salmon in their second 
or third year, of the coho and the dog salmon in their second year. 

7. The great differences in size among indi\iduals of a species observed in the 
spawning run are closely correlated with age, the younger fish averaging constantly 
smaller than those one year older, though the ciu-ves of the two may overlap." 

Since 1910 Dr. Gilbert has devoted much of his time to investiga- 
tions* along this line, especially on the sockeye, with most interesting 
and valuable results. 

His observations on the sockeye runs of British Columbia indicate 
that they consist principally of four and five year fish and thai these 
two classes appear during successive seasons in widely differing pro- 
portions; that each stream has its distinctive race of sockeye, the 
progeny returning at maturity to the parent stream; that sockeye 
fry rarely survive when they proceed to sea within the year in which 
they are hatched; and that sea feeding, with the consequent rapid 
growth, is the most important factor in producing early maturity, 
an equal number of years in fresh water producing comparatively 
little effect. 

MARKING SALMON. 

A favorite recreation for quite a number of Pacific coast people has 
-been the marking of salmon fry in order to find out the age at which 
they return to spawn, the rate of growth, etc. Scattered through 
the reports of the various State fish commissions, and occasionally 
in the reports of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, are to be found 
detailed reports of such markings and the sometimes remarkable 

a Age at Maturity of the Pacific Coast Salmon of the Genus Oncorhynchus. By Charles H. Gilbert. 
Bulletin, I'. S. Bureau of Fisheries, 1912, Vol. XXXII, pp. 21, 22. Washington, 1913. 

b Contributions to the Life History of the Sockeye Salmon. (No. 1.) By C. H. Gilbert. Report of 
British Columbia Commissioner of Fisheries for the year ending Dec. 31 , 1913, with Appendices, pp. K53-78. 
Contributions to the Life History of the Sockeye Salmon. (No. 2.) By C. H. Gilbert. Report British 
Columbia Commissioner oi Fisheries for the year ending Dec. 31, 1914, with Appendices, pp. N4.5-7.5. Con- 
tributions to the Life History of the Sockeye Salmon. (No. 3.) By C. H. Gilbert. Report British 
Columbia Commissioner of Fisheries for the year ending Pec. 31, 191.5, with Appendices, pp. S27-<;4, (i pis. 
Contributions to the Life History of tlie Sockeye Salmon. (No. 4.) By C. H. Gilbert. Report British 
Columbia Commissioner of Fisheries for the year ending Dec. 31, 1917, with Appendices, pp. Q33-S(i, 14 pis. 
Contributions to the Life History of the Sockeye Salmon. (No. .5.) By C. H. Gilbert. Report Britisn 
Columbia Commissioner of Fisheries for the year ending Dec. 31, 1918, with Apcpndices, pp. X26-52, 24 pis. 
Contributions to the Life Historj' of the Sockeyi' Salmon. (No. 6.) By C. U. Giltert. Report, British 
Columbia Commissioner of Fisheries for the year ending Dec. 31, 1919, vnth Appeneices, pp. U3o-68, pis. 
Victoria, British Columbia. 



14 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

results attained, apparently at varying periods subsequent to the 
marking. 

All sorts of marks were employed. The favorite was the removal 
of the adipose fin, the experimenters appearing to be of the opinion 
that the fish would miss this the least of any. However, the entire 
or partial removal of nearly every fin was practiced by some one or 
other of the many experimenters. Sometimes a V or a U was 
punched out of the tail or the gill cover, and in one or two instances 
a tag was employed. 

In time these marking experiments became so numerous, and so 
imperfect a record was kept of them by any central authority, that 
frequently it was impossible to tell, when an apparently marked 
specimen was obtained, where and when it was marked, and as a 
result but little dependence could have been placed upon them even 
had there been no other factors conspiring to vitiate their value. 

Fishermen are continually finding in their nets salmon which they 
feel sure have been marked by some hatchery. Scores of times in 
the course of his various investigations of the fisheries of this coast 
the writer has been told of or shown specimens which the fishermen 
thought had been marked. Many of these marks were on the side of 
the fish and represented an M or W, depending upon the angle from 
which viewed, and it was impossible, generally, to convince the fisher- 
men that this mark was caused by the twine of his gill net pressing 
on the side of the fish. The obvious fact that a fish could not survive 
when in the fry stage the infliction of such a mai'k did not occur to 
them. 

Frequently the scars left by the suctorial organs of the lamprey 
have been mistakenly supposed to be hatchery marks. This scar 
resembles very closely a date stamp on a canceled letter. 

One of the most interesting cases of salmon marking, and one 
which drives home the necessity for accepting reports of returns from 
such markings with extreme caution, is that of F. M. Chamberlain, 
then naturalist of the Bureau of Fisheries steamer Albatross, on the 
Naha Stream in Alaska, 

In August, 1903, 1,600 red salmon fry, reared for the purpose from 
the 1902 eggs, at the Fortmann hatchery of the Alaska Packers 
Association, near Loring, Alaska, were marked by Mr. Chamberlain 
by excising both ventrals with fine curved scissors. The fry were 
released in the Naha River as soon as marked, at which time they 
were about three months old. 

In 1906 between 50 and 100 adult reds with ventral fins missing 
were reported by the superintendent of the hatchery at Yes Bay, 
which is located on the northern side of Behm Canal (Naha being on 
the southern side) and some 15 miles farther up the canal than the 
mouth of Naha Stream. Some of these also had the adipose removed, 
this mark having also been used on some of the fry. At the Fort- 
mann hatchery, where they were marked, only two of these fish were 
obtained in 1906. 

From then on until 1912, a period of 9^ years, the return of a 
number of these supposedly marked fish is noted each year at the 
two hatcheries in question, the number reported in the latter year 
being larger than in some of the intervening years. In 1912 Mr. 
Chamberlain himself pointed out the impossibility of these aU being 
from the fry he had marked and no further attention was paid to them. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 15 

The principal thinii; that this and some of the other many experi- 
ments m salmon marking prove is that the percentage of salmon 
which accidentally lose, either through disease or the attacks of their 
many enemies, one or more of their fins, or portions of same, is much 
larger than most people suppose. Out of the many millions taken 
annually in commercial and fish cultural operations it is not surprising 
that some should be minus such exposed portions of their anatomy 
and this percentage would doubtless be found to be considerable were 
particular attention directed toward it. As it is now, it is only 
occasionally that the fisherman notices such loss, or mentions the 
same when he does, unless his attention has been directed to it by 
particular inquir}'. In the Chamberlain experiment, for instance, 
after 1907 considerable publicity was given to the search for such 
marked fish, and the writer, in his travels through southeast Alaska 
during the succeeding years until the end of 1911, frequently was told 
by fishermen that they had caught salmon with missing fins. Inquiry 
developed that while a few of the lost fins were the same as Chamber- 
lain had excised, a number were entirely different fins, showing that 
when the attention of fishermen was directed especially in this line 
many deformed fish would be found. 

The confusion resulting from the many marking experiments 
carried on by different people shows the absolute necessity of some 
central authorit}' regulating them if an}^ real results are to be achieved 
from this line of endeavor. In 1908 the Secretary of Commerce, under 
authority of sections 11 and 12 of the Alaska fisheries law, directed 
that any persons desiring to mark and release salmon in Alaska first 
consult with and secure the WTitten consent of the Commissioner of 
Fisheries or of the agent at the salmon fisheries of Alaska. It would 
be an excellent thing if some such control could also be exercised 
over these operations in the coastal ^^tates. 

During the year 1916 Dr. Charles H. Gilbert, of Stanford Univer- 
sit}', assisted by Willis H. Rich, conducted salmon-marking experi- 
ments on an extensive scale. Late in the fall of 1915 a consignment 
of 100,000 eggs of the red salmon Avas forwarded to Seattle, Wash., 
from the station of the Bureau of Fisheries at Yes Bay, Alaska, of 
which 50,000 were reshipped to the Anderson Lake hatchery of the 
British Columbia Fisheries Department, located on the ocean side of 
Vancouver Island. The remaining 50,000 were sent to the Bureau 
of Fisheries hatchery at Quinault Lake, near the coast of Washington. 
The intention was as soon as the fry, hatched from these eggs, had 
developed into fingerlings to mark each lot with a distinctive marking 
and plant them in waters near the hatcheries, with the object of 

E roving that the adult fish would return to the stream in which they 
ad passed their early existence, no matter where the eggs were taken. 
This plan could not be carried out at Anderson Lake, as the young 
fish resulting from the eggs, which were sent there, were not strong 
enough to survive the experiment. They were t'lerefore liberated 
without marking. Those hatched at Quinault Lake were marked, 
however, and liberated in the summer of 1916. Dr. Gilbert has 
strong hopes that upon the return of the marked fish important 
data relating to the life history of the species will be obtained. 

During February, March, and April, 191G, some 50,000 yearling 
sockeyes, which had been reared at the Bonneville hatchery of the 
Oregon Fish and Game Commission from eggs obtained from the Yes 



16 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Bay (Alaska) hatchery of the United States Bureau of Fisheries, were 
marked by the removal of the adipose and both ventral fins, and the 
fish then liberated in Tanner Creek, a tributary of the Columbia. The 
fish were in an apparently healthy condition when liberated. In 
order to make sure that they suffered no ill effects from the marking 
a few were held until the wounds had healed perfectly, and these 
were not affected adversely. 

During the summer of 1918 a number of marked fish were reported 
to have returned and been caught. 

During the same period close watch was kept on the Quinault 
River for the return of marked sockeyes from that marking experi- 
ment but none were observed so far as known. 

OCEAN HOME OF THE SALMON. 

All sorts of conjectures have been hazarded as to the ocean home of 
the salmon after the young fish have gone to sea and disappeared ap- 
parently from tne ken of man. Many have conjured up visions of the 
vast schools of adult salmon surging along the coast hundreds of miles 
seeking for some suitable river m which to spawn, explaining in this 
wise the variations in the seasonal runs in different sections. Others 
think the fish go out into the greater depths of the ocean and there 
hide from man until the spawning instinct leads them back to the 
coast and thence to the stream in which they were born or planted. 

Discoveries of recent years have quite altered this uncertainty, and 
we now are reasonably certain that the vast majority of the salmon 
are comparatively near our coast line, while others stay in the bay?, 
straits, and sounds virtually all the time when not in the rivers. 

Some years ago it was first noticed that king salmon would take the 
hook while in salt and brackish waters. At first only the anglers were 
interested in this fact, but as the demand for king salmon for mild 
curing became more insistent the commercial fishermen, attracted by 
the high prices paid, began to devote some attention to the fish dur- 
ing the early spring months, and soon trolling became a recognized 
branch of the industry. It was first taken up on a considerable scale 
in southeast Alaska in 1905. <» As the demand for the-fish increased, 
the fishermen extended operations until almost all of southeast Alaska 
waters were being fished. The length of the fishing season was also 
increased until now only the severe weather of winter prevents them 
from fishing. However, the halibut trawls occasionally come up dur- 
ing the season with king salmon on them, showing that they are still 
on the ground. 

The above is also true to a certain extent of the waters of British 
Columbia and Puget Sound and to a lesser extent, so far as has been 
disclosed, of Monterey Bay and the Oregon coast. 

It has been known for s6me years that the silver, or coho, salmon 
would also take the hook under practically the same conditions as the 
king salmon, and the only reason this species has not been fished for 
to the same extent as the king has been because it was not large 
enough to be attractive to the mild curers, and hence there was a 
much lesser demand for it. 



oReport on the Fisheries of Alaska. By John N. Cobb. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 618, pp. 
19-21. Washington, 1907- 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



17 



It had been supposed that the other species did not feed when in 
coastal waters, but Marsh and Cohh " state quite differently: 

Other species of salmon, in addition to the king, are found to take the trollinp hook. 
For several weeks in July troUers in Union Bay, in southeast Alaska, caught a number 
of cohos and humpbacks while trolling for kings. The humpbacks were caught 
mainly with a spoon, no bait being used. Most of them appeared to have been feeding 
on needlefish and herring, according to the cutter who dressed them. A few red 
salmon are reported to have been caught on the trolling line by fishermen operating 
for king salmon in the neighborhood of Mary Island, near Dixon Entrance. Several 
tishermen report haNing in previous years frequently taken dog salmon on a hook in 
the bays along Chatham Strait. 

In 1909, Mr. J. R. Heckman, of Ketchikan, Alaska, a well-known 
cannery man, told the \\'Titer that, while he was trying to install a 
floating trap near Cape Chacon, at the lower end of Prince of Wales 
Island, soutlieast Alaska, he on several occasions observed red salmon 
feeding on what ho called a red shrimp. 

This was also observed in 1912, when Dr. Gilbert reported, in con- 
nection with his observations of salmon fishing on Swiftsure Bank, ofT 
the Straits of San Juan de Fuca, that "during the past summer it 
was observed by Mr. J. P. Babcock and the writer that the sockeye on 
the Bank were feeding extensively on a small shrimp-like crustacean 
{Thysanoessa spinifera, Holmes), which floats in incredible numbers 
on the tides and forms a favorite food for the other species as well as 
for the sockeye." ^ He also found all the other species feeding vora- 
ciously in this neighborhood. 

The experience of the fishermen operating in and off Port Moller, 
in Bering Sea, also affords confirmatory evidence along this line. A 
cannery was established on Port Moller in 1913, the avowed purpose 
of the owners being to catch what they claimed would be the enor- 
mous schools which annually resort to the great rivers of Bristol Bay, 
some 210 miles to the eastward from Port Moller. This cannery made 
a fairly large pack for a season or two, using purse seines in Bering 
Sea and traps along the shore. Misled by this, tliree other canneries 
were built in 1916 and 1917. In a season or two the catches of the 
combined plants had dropped to much less than the catch of the one 
cannery when operating alone, thus showing that the fishermen were 
operating on a run which was local to that neighborhood. This is 
borne out by the fact that the Bristol Bay runs showed no appreciable 
diminution when the catch was lowest at Port Moller. The pack of 

the Port Moller canneries follows. 

* 

Pack of the Port Moller Canneries. 



Year. 


Number 
of can- 
neries. 


Cases 
packed. 


Year. 


Number 
of can- 
neries. 


Cases 
packed. 


1913 


1 
1 
1 
2 


44,150 
87,175 
105,674 
132,367 


1917 


4 
4 


39 688 


1914 


1918 


124,884 
29 849 


1915 


1919 


1916 











a The Fisheries of Alaska in 1909. By Millar C. Marsh and J(?hn N. Cobb. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries 
Document No. 730, p. 26. Washington, 191it. 

b The Salmon on Swiftsure Bank. By Charles H. Gilbert. Report of British ColumbiaCommissioner 
of Fisheries for Year ending Dec. 31, 1912, and Appendix, p. 1 lb. Victoria, British Columbia. 

11312°— 21 2 



18 XJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

These observations would tend to confirm the behef which has been 
steadily growing in favor for some years that the salmon either spend 
the greater part of their life in the bays, straits, and sounds, or else in 
regions adjacent to the coast line. 

The reason they had not been found in this region earlier is doubt- 
less due to the fact that during the fall, winter, and spring months the 
weather on the north Pacific coast is such that fishing operations can 
not be carried on along the open coast, while in summer the fishermen 
are all busy on the spa%vning runs and have no time to devote to fish 
not yet arrived at maturity, which are probably feeding along the 
coast as usual. 

FISHING GROUNDS AND HISTORY OF THE FISHERIES.^ 
WASHINGTON. 

Puget Sound. — Strictly speaking, the name Puget Sound should be 
restricted to tha"t long, narrow arm extending south from the Strait 
of Juan de Fuca, but a practice has developed, and is now common 
among fishermen and others, of designating all the great water area 
in the State of Washington comprismg Puget Sound proper, Strait 
of Juan de Fuca, Canal de Haro, Rosario Strait, the Gulf of Georgia, 
and the smaller straits, bays, and sounds, as Puget Sound, and this 
practice, for the sake of convenience, has been followed in this report. 

This great indentation in the coast, with its numerous islands and 
many fine harbors, has greatly aided the development of this portion 
of Washington and has been specially favorable to the prosecution 
of the salmon and other fisheries. Numerous rivers and creeks enter 
the Sound, the more important of these being on the eastern shore 
and comprising the Nooksack, Skagit, Stillaguamish, Snohomish, 
Duwamish, Puyallup, and Nisqually. On the southern and western 
shores the tributary streams are nearly all small, the more important 
being the Skokomish, Quilcene, Dungeness, and Elwha. 

As on other bodies of water on the Pacific coast frequented by 
salmon, the Indians were fishing for them when the first whites 
visited the country. The natives at this time, and for many years 
after, used reef nets and hooks and lines in the salt water, and spears, 
dip nets, and weirs in the rivers. Traders first reached the head- 
waters of the Fraser River and gradually worked down the same 
until they reached the sea. 

For many years this region was comparatively isolated from the 
rest of the world, and the completion of transcontinental railroads 
has not completely changed this, owing to its distance from large 
consuming centers. As a result of this isolation, it was necessary 
for many years to resort to methods of preparation which would 
insure the preservation of the product for indefinite periods. Salting 
naturally came first, followed by canning, while the shipping of 
fresh salmon has been steadily growing in importance as transporta- 
tion facilities increased. 

The Northwest Co., a large fur- trading organization, about the 
beginning of last century first introduced the salting process and 

a For some of the regions the historical data are fragmentary and can not be considered as other than 
historical notes. It is hoped that some one will write a history of the industry before all of the pioneers 
have passed away. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 19 

this was continuerl by the Hudson Bay Co. Both companies carried 
on the business primarily for the purpose of providing a winter stock 
for the use of tneir employees and for local sale. As shipping de- 
veloped on the Pacific, a considera})le export trade in saltecl salmon 
was developed with the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, China, and 
Japan, and with the eastern United States. Quinnat, or spring, 
and sockeye salmon were the principal species employed in the 
earlier years. 

After the boundary line between Canada and the United States 
had been established in 1846, and what is now the State of Wash- 
ington was acknowledged as part of the latter, a number of small 
traders and fish packers succeeded the Hudson Bay Co. In the early 
sixties several men were engaged in the business at Point Ro])erts, 
according to the Olympia Columbian of September 10, 1853. In 1873, 
V. T. Tull, of Olympia, established a salmon fishery at Mukilteo, 
principally for putting up fish in barrels. The first year 500 oarrels 
were packed at Mukilteo, after which the tisliery was moved tem- 
porarily to Seattle to take the late run up the Duwamish River, 
which is usually large. Fifteen hundred good large salmon have 
been taken at one haul of the seine in the Puyallup. 

Bancroft's "History of Washington, Idaho, and Montana" con- 
tains among others the following references" to the earl}^ fishermen of 
the Sound: 

In 1874 Corbette & Macleay, of Portland, founded a fishery at Tacoma. Sixty 
barrels were packed in five days, only three men beino; employed. — New Tacoma 
Tribune, November 14, 1874. In 1876, John Bryggot, a Norwegian, founded another 
fishery at Salmon Bay, 6 miles north of Olympia. In 1878 a company of I'uget 
Sound men established a fourth at Clallam Bay. They put up the first season (;00 
casks of salmon and 700 of halibut. — Morse's Wash. Terr., MS., xviii, 17-18. In the 
follo\ving season D. D. Hume established a fishery near Steilacoom for the purpose of 
salting salmon. In 1880 H. Levy, of Seattle, went to London wdth 100 barrels to 
introduce Puget Sound salted salmon to that market. In 1882 a salmon packing 

establishment was opened at Old Tacoma by Williams. Salmon ran m great 

numbers this year. One boat brought in a thousand fish. 

The extension of the railroad to Puget wSound, thus furnishing an 
outlet to the rapidly growing population in the Middle West, did 
much to aid the industry. This also gave opportunity to begin the 
shipping of fresh halibut and salmon to eastern points, Ainsworth 
& Dunn, of Seattle, operating later under the name of the Seattle 
Fish Co., were the first successful pioneers in this branch of the 
industry, beginning about 1889, and carrying it on until they sold 
out in 1901, as noted later. 

In 1903 the San Juan Fishing 6c Packing Co., which had begun the 
fresh-fish business in 1899. bought this business from the Pacific 
Packing & Navigation Co., to which it had been sold in 1901 

In 1893 A. E. Wadhams, who had operated on the Columbia River 
for some years, established a sockeye plant at Point Roberts. 

In 1894 both canneries were sold to tneir present owner, the Alaska 
Packers Association, an organization formed not long before this by 
a combination of a number of Alaska plants. 

About 1894 A. E. Devlin came up from the Columbia River and 
established a plant at Friday Harbor, which is now operated by the 
Friday Harbor Packing Co. 

a History of the Pacific States, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, 1845-1889, vol. 26, pp. 345-349. By 
Hubert Howe Bancroft. 



20 U. S. BUKEAU OF FISHEEIES. 

In 1895 three new canneries were built at Anacortes — one by Philip 
S. Cook (later owned by the Porter Fish Co. and now by the Anacortes 
Fisheries Co.), one by the Anacortes Packing Co. (now owned by the 
Alaska Packers Association), and the other by the Fidalgo Island 
Canning Co. In the same year a cannery was built at Port Angeles 
by the National Packing Co. In 1902 this plant was sold to the 
Manhattan Packing Co., which company was absorbed by the 
Gorman interests in 1906. 

In 1896 J. R. Young and B. L. Williams built a small cannery at 
Blaine. They failed in 1900 through the failure of their trap fisheries 
and J. W. & V. Cook Packing Co., of Portland, bought their plant 
and put J. L. Smiley in charge of it. In 1909 Mr. Smiley purchased 
this plant from the company and operated it until 1916, when he 
disposed of it to Lee Wakefield and E. Schoenwald, who sold it the 
following year to the Wilson Fisheries Co. 

As Ains worth & Dunn found that they were receiving more salmon 
than they could dispose of in a fresh condition (they were first, in 
1889, to ship fresh salmon from here to eastern points), the firm 
built a cannery on the Seattle water front, at what is now Pier 8, 
about 1895 or 1896, and about 1897 built another at Blaine. 

In 1900 the Blaine Packing Co. built a cannery at Blaine and 
operated it nearly every season until 1916, when it was sold to the 
Blaine Cannery Co. 

In 1901 Ainsworth & Dunn sold all its fresh fish and canned salmon 
holdings to the newly organized Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. 
When the latter company failed and its assets were sold in 1904, the 
firm bought back its former Blaine plant and has operated it ever 
since. Mr. Ainsworth, the senior member of the firm, died in 1914, 
but the business is still operated under the name of Ainsworth & 
Dunn. 

The Pacific American Fisheries Co. was incorporated in 1899. The 
company purchased at the time of its organization the cannery and 
trap properties of the Island Packing Co., San Juan Island, and the 
cannery of the Franco-American North Pacific Packing Co., at Fair- 
haven. The last-named cannery had been built the previous year. 

By 1900 a number of canneries had been erected on the shores of 
Puget Sound, most of which were then in active operation. In 1901 
the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. was organized under the laws 
of the State of New Jersey, for the purpose of acquiring a number of 
salmon canneries on the coast. It was supposed to be backed by 
unlimited eastern capital, and its authorizea capitalization was as 
follows: Common stock, $12,500,000; 7 per cent accumulative pre- 
ferred stock, $12,500,000; and 6 per cent debentures, $7,000,000. It 
actually issued $6,037,000 common stock, $6,963,000 preferred stock, 
and $3,000,000 debentures. Subsequently the management effected 
an exchange of preferred stock for debentures, increasing the for- 
mer to about $7,500,000 and decreasing the debentures to about 
$1,650,000. 

The new company purchased a number of canneries in Alaska, also 
the following Puget vSound plants: Pacific American Fisheries Co.'s 
canneries at Fairhaven (now Bellingham) and Friday Harbor, the 
Ainsworth & Dunn canneries at Blaine and Seattle, and the Fair- 
haven Packing Co. cannery at Fairhaven. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. ' 21 

The company had a very short career, ending up in the bank- 
ruptcy courts in 1903, and when all its affairs were wound up the 
stockholders received nothino^, wMe the bondholders got but an 
exceedingly paltry sum out of all the money put into it. 

Most of the canneries secured on Puget Sound were repurchased by 
their former owners or by new people. 

The Apex Fish Co. was incorporated in 1904 and built a cannery 
at Anacortes which has been operated continuously since. 

B. A. Seaborg, a well-known Columbia River packer, early in the 
century established a cannery in South Bellingham and operated it 
under the name of the Washington Packing Co. In 1905 it was pur- 
chased by R. A. Welsh, then of Vancouver, British Columbia, and 
Loggie Bros., of Bellingham, and has been operated since under the 
name of the Bellingham Canning Co. 

The Hillside Canning Co.'s plant was l)uilt and operated for the 
first time at Port Townsend in 1905 by Andrew We'her, H. Ellerbeck, 
William McKee, and E. C. Seeley. 

In 1906 T. J. Gorman, since deceased, purchased the cannery of the 
Rosario Straits Packing Co. at Anacortes. 

In 1006 E. A. Sims leased the cannery at Port Townsend which 
had been built some years earlier by Mr. Cook and operated under the 
name of the Port Townsend Packing Co. 

A one-line cannery was erected in the spring of 1906 by the 
Wadham-Curtis Canning Co. at Blaine, but it burned down the 
same year. 

In 1897 the Chlopeck Fish Co. (now the Booth Fisheries Co.), 
which had been operating in Portland for several years, started a 
fresh fish and freezing business at Seattle. 

The first salmon cannery on Puget Sound was erected by Jackson, 
Myers & Co., in 1877, at Mukilteo, in Snohomish County. The mem- 
bers of this firm had all been engaged previously in salmon canning 
on the Columbia River. The first pack was of 5,000 cases, composed 
wholly of silver, or coho, salmon. Later at this plant were ynit up 
the first humpbacks ever canned. In order to divert the minds of 
purchasers from the fact that the meat of the humpback was much 
lighter in color than the grades then known to the consuming puf)]ic, 
the company printed on its label the legend, "Warranted not to turn 
red in the can." Even with this shrewd sizing up of the weak side 
of the consuming public the demand for humpbacK, or pink, salm.on 
developed very slowly, and it was some years before it became a 
factor in the markets. 

Within a year or two after the opening of the above plant another 
was started at Mukilteo by a man named Bigelow. 

In 1880 the Myers's cannery was destroyed by a heavy fall of snow. 
It was rebuilt in West Seattle and was operated till 1888, when it 
was destroyed by fire. George T. Myers, now sole owner, built a new 
cannery at Milton, which was burned two years later, and he then 
came back to Seattle and built a cannery about where Ainsworth l'v: 
Dunn's dock now stands. He remained here only one season, after 
which he moved to where the Pacilic Coal Co.'s bunkers are now. 
Late in 1901 he sold out his plant to the United Fish Co., which com- 
pany moved the plant to the foot of Connecticut Avenue, where they 
continued operations for two or three years and then quit. 



22 * tr. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

In 1889 a man named Morse established a cannery at Seattle and 
operated it for only one year. 

The first Puget Sound sockeye cannery was built at Semiahmoo, 
near Blaine, by J. A. Martin and John Elwood about the year 1891. 
It was bought in 1892 for $500 by D. Drysdale, who shortly after- 
ward rebuilt and greatly enlarged the plant. In the same year Mr. 
Drysdale demonstrated the commercial success of fish traps. Traps 
had been in operation before this, however. In 1893 Ainsworth & 
Dunn had a trap at Five Mile Rock, just beyond the lighthouse 
at Magnolia Bluff (now a part of Seattle), and there had been a 
trap or two in Elliott Bay even prior to this. Traps had not been 
profitable in this section, however, owing to the cheapness and 
abundance of salmon, haul seines being cheaper and more profitable 
to operate. A man named H. B. Kirby, who came originally from 
Nova Scotia, and another named Goodfellow (now living at Point 
Roberts) put in the first trap for Mr. Drysdale. 

From this time on the industry fluctuated considerably, 41 can- 
neries, an increase of 10 over 1914, being operated in 1915, while 35 
were operated in 1919. 

During the early years of sockeye canning they were not sold to 
the trade as sockeyes, but as Alaska reds and Columbia River salmon, 
for which there had been an established market for some years. 

H. Bell-Irving & Co., of Vancouver, British Columbia, were the 

Eioneers in the labeUng of the fish as sockeyes, this being in 1894-95. 
(ike all virtually new products, sockeye salmon had a hard fight 
for several years to secure a foothold in the salmon markets, and 
it was not until the Spanish- American War in 1898 caused a heavy 
demand for canned foods that its position became finally established. 

Sohduck River. — This is a small stream, about 30 miles in length, 
which flows through the southwestern part of Clallam County and 
empties directly into the ocean. The Quillayute Indian Reservation 
is located here and the natives formerly caught salmon and marketed 
them on Puget Sound, but a small cannery, started at Mora, on this 
river, in 1912, furnished a market for the catch up to the end of 1915, 
when it was abandoned. 

Hoh River. — This is a comparatively small river, which is wholly 
within Jefferson County, and debouches into the ocean in the north- 
western part of the county. It passes through the Hoh Indian 
Reservation in its lower reaches. A cannery was built here in 1917 
by Fletcher Bros., and has been operated each season since. In 
the spring of 1919 it was moved to a more convenient location about 
a mile from the original site. 

Queets River. — This river, which is about 35 miles long, rises in the 
northern part of Jefferson County and empties directly into the ocean 
in the northwestern part of Grays Harbor County, within the bounds 
of the Quinault Indian Reservation. A small salmon cannery was 
built at Queets, in Jeft'erson County, in 1905, and has been operated 
every season since. 

Quinault River. — This river, which enters the ocean in the north- 
western part of Gravs Harbor County, has a length from the ocean 
to Quinault Lake of about 40 miles, wholly within the boundaries 
of the Quinault Indian Reservation. 

This stream is especially noted for its long-continued annual run 
of Quinault salmon (0. nerka). These fish, which are noted for 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 23 

their especially red-colored flesh, make their appearance early in 
December, when the Indians generally catch th(>ni for their own use, 
as they fear that, if the whites got hold of the lish, they might throw 
awav the hearts. Should a heart be eaten at this time by a dog or 
chicken, the Indians believe the run would not come. In January, 
when the fish begin to be abundant, all danger of this seems to have 
passed, for the Indians then usually have a considera])lo number for 
sale, and these are generally shipped to distant markets in a fresh 
condition by the buyers. As soon as the canneries open at Moclips 
most of the fish are disposed of at that ]ilace. The run continues up 
to July 1. May and June are the best fishing months. 

There is a fall run of chinooks in this river, which usually arrives 
in August and ends about October 15. 

The silver salmon appear about October 1 and the run is generally 
over by November 15; the dog salmon appear about Novem})er 1 
and the run is usually over by the middle of the same montli, while 
the steelhead trout run between November 20 and May 1. None of 
the latter are canned. 

Moclips, the terminus of the railroad, is about 10 miles from the 
river, and the fish are all taken by team to this place. Twenty fish, 
weighing approximately 100 pounds, are put in each box, and these 
are piled onto the wagons until a load has been accumulated. The 
team owners get 50 cents a box for hauling the loaded ones to Moclips 
and 5 cents a box for bringing the empty ones back. 

In 1915 the records of the Indian a^ent show that the Indians 
fishing on the north side of the river caugrit 219,654 Quinault salmon, 
valued at $49,820, while those on the south side caught 135,353 
of these fish, valued at $30,528.60, or a grand total of 355,007 fish, 
valued at $80,348.60. This does not take into account the results 
of the fishing for the other species of salmon and steelhead trout, 
which quite materially swell the total. 

Fishing is restricted to the Indians, who also make their own 
fishery laws, with the advice and approval of the Office of Indian 
Affairs, as the State laws have no force inside the bounds of the reser- 
vation. Under the regulations now in force, a clear channel of one- 
third the width must be left in the middle of the stream, which is 
from 250 to 300 yards in width. Each owner of a fisliing location 
has to fish it in person; provided, however, that w^idows, orphans, 
minor children, old Indians, and those who are sick or have gainful 
occupations other than fisliing, are allowed to lease their locations or 
hire some one to fisli them, and then only with the approval of the 
officer in charge. 

During the Quinault season stake nets are used, while the rest of 
the time, as a result of the freshets, drift gill nets are used in the 
eddies. The stake nets are arranged in a rather peculiar manner. 
A line of stakes is run out for about one-third tlie width at right 
angles to the shore, and to these are attached a net by short ropes. 
From each stake a section of net is run out and downstream, curv- 
ing inward like a hook at the end, the latter part being held in place 
by three stakes. 

The stake nets are 40 to 60 meslies deep, with 51-inch stretch mesh, 
and are set 85 yards apart. A set of these as described above forms 
one fishing location. 



24 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

The chinook gill nets are usually 8f to 9 inches stretch mesh and 
24 meshes deep, while the gill nets for silvers, dogs, and steelheads 
are of 7-inch stretch mesh and 35 meshes deep. 

For some years the salmon from the Quinault River were brought 
to Hoquiam and Aberdeen for canning. In 1911 W. W. Kurtz, of 
the former place, began the erection of a cannery at Moclips for the 
purpose of packing these fish, and the same season his example was 
followed by Frank Shafer. Mr. Kurtz still operates his plant, but 
the other is now owned by the Pacific Fisheries & Packing Co. 

Grays Harbor. — This is the first important indentation on the coast 
of Washington south of Cape Flattery. It is about 40 miles long 
from east to west and about 20 miles wide in the widest part. The 
principal tributary is the Chehalis River, but there are a number of 
small streams which debouch into the harbor. 

In 1883 B. A. Seaborg, who operated a cannery on the Columbia 
River, established a plant at what was later to be the thriving city 
of Aberdeen, although at that time it was practically a wilderness. 

In 1902 the North American Fisheries Co. built a plant at Aber- 
deen. Shortly after it came into the possession of the Grays Harbor 
Packing Co., and on June 8, 1903, it was destroyed by fire. It was 
rebuilt and operated by this company until 1906, when it was sold 
to S. Elmore & Co., who still own it. 

The Hoquiam Packing Co. built a cannery at Hoquiam in 1904 
and have operated it ever since. 

In 1910 two canneries were in operation at Aberdeen and Hoquiam, 
respectively; in 1915 there were three at the former place and 
one at the latter, while in 1919 there were six in operation. 

WiUapa Harbor. — The entrance to this harbor, which also includes 
Shoalwater Bay, is about 27 miles south of Grays Harbor. The har- 
bor runs east and west and is about 25 miles long. Shoalwater Bay 
extends south from it a distance of about 30 miles, its southern por- 
tion ending about a mile from the Columbia River and its west- 
ern side being separated from the ocean by a spit varying in width 
from three-fom-ths to 1 mile. The bay is shallow, excepting in the 
main channel. The principal salmon streams entering the harbor 
are the Nasel and North Rivers, in which most of the pound or trap 
nets are located. 

In 1884 B. A. Seaborg, a Columbia River canner, established a plant 
on Shoalwater Bay, as the whole of WiUapa Harbor was then known. 

About 1900 F. C. Barnes established a cannery at Sunshine, ( n the 
Nasel River, but the run of salmon on this river soon became so small 
that the plant was abandoned and the machinery moved to Mr. 
Barnes's cannery at South Bend. 

In 1904 P. J. McGowan, the Columbia River canner, opened a 
cannery on the North River. Mr. McGowan, who was over SO years 
of age at the time, had turned the control of his important Columbia 
River canning interest over to his sons, but finding idleness not to 
his likmg, started this cannery in order to have something to occupy 
his time. He operated it for several years and then abandoned the 
project. 

In 1912 the Chetlo Harbor Packing Co. established a cannery at 
Chetio Harbor, but operated it only that year and m 1914. 

In 1919 only two canneries, both of them at South Bend, operated 
on Willapa Harbor. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 25 

COLUMBIA RIVER. 

Tlie Columbia, which is the largest river of the Pacific coast, rises 
in British Columbia, flows through Washington, reaching the north- 
ern border of Oregon about 75 miles west of tlic State's eastern 
boundary; from this point the river forms the dividing line between 
Oregcm and Washington, its general course being westerly. It 
empties into the Pacific at Cape Disappointment. Its principal 
tributaries are the Spokane, Yakima, Snake, John Day, Deschutes, 
and Willamette Rivers, and through these the main river drains an 
enormous extent of territory. 

This river, which has produced more salmon than any other river 
in the world, has had a most interesting history. Many years before 
the white man saw its waters the Indians visited its banks during 
the annual salmon runs and caught and cured their winter's sup])ly 
of food. Along the shores of the river at The Dalles for 15 miles 
were notable lisheries where various bands, who lived south and 
north, had their respective fishing locations, and to which all others 
were forbidden access. They used spears and dip nets in catching 
the salmon, the majority of which were dried and smoked for winter 
use. This dip, or basket, net was fastened to a pole about 30 feet 
long and slid on a hoop. The Indian filled it by slinging it as far as 
possible up the stream and then hauling it up, the weight of the 
fish closing the net by drawing it on the hoop. 

A favorite preparation of the Indians who resorted to the river 
was pemmican. This was the meat of the salmon cleaned of the 
bones, pounded l^) tine, and then packed in hempen sacks of home 
manufacture. A sack of pemmican weighed from 80 to 90 pounds 
and was worth in barter as much as an ordinary horse. 

Capt. Wilkes, U. S. N., has the following to say with respect to 
salmon fishing by natives at Kettle Falls on the Columbia River near 
the present city of Colville, Wash., at the time of his visit there in 
1841: 

There is an Indian villaf!;e on the banks of the great falls, inhabited by a few families, 
who are called "Quiarlpi" (basket people), from the circumstance of their usinsi; 
baskets to catch their fish (salmon). The season for the salmon fishery had not yet 
(in June ?) arrived, so that our gentlemen did not see the manner of taking the fish; 
but, as described to them, the fishing ap])aratr,s consists of a large wicker basket 
supported by long poles inserte.l into it and fixed in the rocks. The lower ])art, which 
is of the basket form, is joined to a broad frame spreading above, against whicli the 
fish in attempting to jump the falls strike and are thrown back into the basket. 
This basket during the fishing season is raised three times in the day (24 hours), and 
at each haul ntt unfrequently contains 300 fine fish. A division of these takes place 
at sunset each day under the direction of one of the chief men of the village, and to each 
family is allotted the number it may be entitled to; not only the resident Indiana, 
but all who may be there fishing, or by accident, are equally iDcluded in the dis- 
tribution." 

The first American to engage in fisliing on the Columbia River was 
Capt. Nathaniel J, Wyeth, of Massachusetts, who in 1832 crossed 
overland to Oregon w^th the purpose of establishing salmon fisheries 
in connection with prosecuting the Indian and fur trade. He dis- 

gatched a vessel via Cape Horn to the Columbia with trading goods, 
ut she was never heard from after sailing. In the meantime Wyeth 

a Narrative of the United States Exploring Expedition during the Years 1838,1839,1840, 1841, and 
1842. By Charles Wilkes, U. S. Navy, commander ofthe expedition. In 5 volumes. Vol. IV, pp. 444, 
145. Philadelphia, Lee & Blanchard, 1845. 



26 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

had cstablislicd a station at Fort Hall, on the Lewis River, a branch 
of the Columbia. 

In 1833 Capt. Wyeth returned overland to Boston, while the rest of 
his party dispersed throughout the Columbia Valley. Far from dis- 
heartened by the disaster to his vessel, Capt. Wj^eth dispatched the 
brig May Dacre, Capt. Lambert, laden with trading goods and sup- 
plies, to the Columbia River via Cape Horn, while he crossed overland 
with 200 men. He established a salmon fishery and fort at the lower 
end of Wappatoo (now Sauvies) Island, at the mouth of the Wil- 
lamette River. 

The salmon fishery did not prove successful and the brig sailed in 
1835 with only a half cargo of hsh and did not come back. The same 
year Capt. Wyeth broke up both the establishment here and on the 
Lewis River and, disheartened, returned to Massachusetts, having 
found the competition of the Hudson Bay Co. too powerful for him. 

In August, 1840, Capt. John H. Couch, in command of the brig 
Maryland, which belonged to Cushiiig & Co., of Newburyport, Mass., 
arrived in the Columbia River. After taking a few salmon the vessel 
left in the autumn never to return. On April 2, 1842, Capt. Couch 
reappeared in the river with a new vessel, the Chenamus, named after 
the chief of the Chinooks. With his cargo of goods he established 
himself at the present site of Oregon City, the first American trading 
house to be established in the Willamette Valley. He also estab- 
lished a small fishery on the Columbia River. The vessel returned 
to Newburyport in the autumn. 

The next American vessel to come in established a far from enviable 
record. There is no record of her name, but she was commanded by 
a man named Chapman and entered the river April 10, 1842. She 
came for the purpose of trading and fishing and remained till autumn. 
During her presence in the river it is charged she sold liquor to the 
Clatsop and other savages, as a result of which much bloodshed and 
discord ri^sulted. 

About 1857 John West began salting salmon in barrels at Westport, 
on the lower Columbia. 

In February, 1859, the Washington Legislature passed an act pro- 
hibiting nonresidents from taking fish on the beach of the Columbia 
between Point Ellis and Cape Hancock. 

Bancroft ^ states: 

On the 26th of January, 1861, J. T. Lovelace and W. H. Dillon were granted the 
exclusive right to fish in the Columbia for a distance of 1 mile along its banks and 
extending from low-water mark half a mile toward the middle of the stream. 

In 1861, H. N. Rice and Jotham Reed began packing salted salmon 
in ])arrels at Oak Point, 60 miles below Portland. The first season's 
pack amounted to 600 barrels. The venture proved fairly profitable 
and was soon participated in by others. 

In the spring of 1866 William Hume, who had assisted in starting 
the first salmon cannery in the United States on the Sacramento 
River in 1864, finding the run of fish in the latter stream rather dis- 
appointing, started a cannery for Hapgood, Hume & Co. on the 
Columbia at Eagle Cliff, Wash., about 40 miles above Astoria. 

a History of the Pacific Stales, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, lti45-1889, vol. 26, p. 349. By Hubert 
Howe Bancroft. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 27 

The year this first cannery operated the following fishermen were 
operating in the river: Jotham Reed used a trap and a small gill 
net opposite Oak Point; Mr. Wallace fished a small seine from the 
shore of an island of that name a short distance below; John T. M. 
Harrington (who was later to establish the Pillar Rock cannery), in 
conjunction with a man named Fitzpatrick, operated a seine at 
Tenasillihe, as did also a Mr. Welch; P. J. McGowan, who, with his 
sons, in 1884 started a cannery at McGowan, and later, at Warrendale, 
Ilwaco, etc., operated two small seines at Chinook Beach; and Hap- 
good, Hume & Co. had two small gill nets about 125 fathoms in length 
and 32 meshes deep. The gill net of Mr. Reed was much smaller than 
these. At this period the river literally swarmed with salmon, and 
the cannery had no trouble in packing 4,000 cases, which it increased 
to 18,000 the next year and to 28,000 cases in 1868. 

In 1867 a crude cannery on a scow was started by S. W. Aldrich, 
a ship carpenter. The scow was about 50 by 20 feet, with a cabin 
on it, and in one end of this he constructed a brick furnace in which 
he set a large cast-iron cauldron for a cooker. Along one side he 
rigged a bench and manufactured the cans. Aldrich was a regular 
jack-of-all- trades, as he did everything from catching the fisli to 
canning and cooking them ready for the market. 

In 1868 a cannery was built near Eagle Cliff by one of the Humes, 
while in 1873 R. D. Hume built another at Bay View, Wash. He 
operated it until 1876, when Mr. Leveridge, of Leveridge, Wadhams 
& Co., of San Francisco, bought it and operated it during 1877 and 
1878. George W. Hume took it then and a few years later sold it 
to David Morgan, jr., who got into financial difficulties, and the 
plant was ordered sold by the court. C. W. Fulton, of Astoria, 
later a United States Senator, had the matter in charge, but was 
unable to find a customer, and finally in desperation offered it to 
W. H. Barker, of George & Barker, "for S600. Mr. Fulton closed 
with him the same day. It proved a most profitable transaction for 
the purchasers, who acquired a million and a half labels which could 
be utilized, the machinery was taken out for other plants, the timl)er 
on the land belonging to the tract sold, and the floating property 
sold for a considerable sum, after which the stripped plant and land 
were sold back to Mr. Morgan for $600, the purchase price. He 
sold it to George W. Hume, who wanted it to correct a title. It 
was sold for taxes a couple of years later and was bought in by 
B. A. Seaborg, who operated it for two years, since when it has 
been idle. 

George W. Plume was the first salmon canner to employ Chinese. 
This was at Eagle Cliff in 1872. At this period the white laborers 
in the canneries were recruited from the riffraff and criminal element 
of Portland. He had a Cliinese working for I'iin and through this 
man secured a Chinese gang from Portland. This labor proved so 
satisfactory that the custom soon spread to the other canneries. It 
was not found that the Chinese could do the work any better or 
quicker than the white laborer, but they proved more relial)le in 
tneir work and gave less trouble. 

Donald and Kenneth Macleay, of Portland, and William Corbitt, 
of San Francisco, who were in business in Portland, were the first 
to make a direct shipment of canned salmon to Liverpool. This 



28 V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

was in 1871, and the shipment abroad that year amounted to 30,000 
cases. 

Of the 35 canneries on the Columbia River in 1881, it is said that 
about one-half had been established bv the Hume brothers. G. W. 
and WiHiam Hume were partners in the firm of Hapgood, Hume & 
Co., on the Sacramento River, and established the first cannery on 
the Columbia. In 1881 William was the proprietor of two canneries, 
one at Astoria, Oreg., and one at Eagle Cliff, Wash. R. D. Hume, 
a third brother, in the same year had a canhery in operation on the 
Rogue River, and estabhshed three others, one at Eagle Cliff (then 
owned by William Hume), one at Rainier (then belonging to Jackson 
& Myers), and one at Astoria. The fourth brother, Joseph, came to 
the coast in 1871 and some time later established a cannery on the 
river. 

One of the pioneer canners on the river was the late F. M. Warren, 
operating as the Warren Packing Co., who established a cannery at 
Cathlamet, Wash., in 1869. The same company is still operating 
the plant. Later another cannery was established at Warrendale, 
Oreg., and it also is still operated by this company. Mr. Warren was 
the inventor of a retort, patented on April 10, 1877, which was in use 
by the principal canneries on the coast lor a number of years. 

John West was another pioneer. He built a cannery at Hungry 
Harbor, Wash., about 1869. In 1881 he moved his plant to West- 
port, on the Oregon side of the river. Mr. West was the inventor 
of a packing machine for placing the fish in the cans. 

In 1871 the firm of Megler & Jewett estaMished a cannery on the 
present site of Brookfield, Wash., and named it in honor of Mrs. Meg- 
ler's birthplace. North Brookfield, Mass. In 1876 the plant was 
greatly enlarged and J. S. Megler bought out his partners and took 
in Mr. Macleay, of Corbitt-Macleay, wholesale grocers, of Portland 
and San Francisco, and changed the firm name to J. S. Megler & Co., 
under which title it still operates. In 1879 Mr. Megler bought out 
this partner and owned the plant until his death in 1915, since when 
it has been operated by his widow. 

The first soldering machine used on the Columbia River was in 
this plant, while the steam box and lacquering machines were first 
put in use on the river in this plant. 

In 1874 the Adair brothers, S. D. and John, jr., erected a cannery 
at Astoria, the second one to be built there. Before packing began, 
A. Booth, the well-known Chicago fish dealer, and progenitor of the 
present Booth Fisheries Co., acquired a half interest in the plant, 
which was then named A. Booth & Co. John Adair, jr., was the 
manager. The brothers established canneries on the Fraser River 
and in some seasons exchanged places in operating on the two rivers. 
S. D. Adair sold out his cannery on the Fraser and bought one on 
the Colur '^ia and operated it under the firm name of S. D. Adair 
& Co. After selling out his interest in A. Booth & Co., S. D. Adair 
formed a partnership with Wm. B. Adair under the style of S. D. 
Adair & Co. in 1881. The brothers were active in the industry for 
a number of years. 

J. O. Han thorn, under the firm name of J. O. Han thorn & Co., 
established one of the largest canneries on the river at Astoria in 
1876. He invented a rotary can washer for washing cans after they 
were filled ready for soldering and before the tops were put on. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



29 



In the same year Marshall J. Kinney ho^an his long and interesting 
career in the canning business by establishing a cannery at Astoria. 

One of the most noted men 'the Columbia River produced was 
Mathias Jensen, a Dane, who fished there for some years. He 
achieved especial fame from his important inventions in canning 
machinery. His first invention, however, was a machine for filling 
needles for knitting salmon nets. He next invented a can-filling 
machine, which is in common use to-day. He also invented tbe 
first topping machine, which was a marked success. The patent 
rights of both these machines were sold to the Alaska Packers 
Association. The machines were all made at the plant of the Astoria 
Iron Works, at Astoria, of which Mr. John Fox was the founder. 

The first fish trap or pound on the river was constructed by Mr. 
Graham, in Baker Bay. on the Washington shore, in 1879. In 1881 
Mr. P. J. McGowan built some traps just below the bay. The traps 
were very successful at times. 

The first purse seine on the river was operated by William Graham 
& Co. in 1906. 

Below appears a list of the canneries operated on the Columbia 
River in 1881, together with the pack of each during the year in 
question: 

J. Williams (Oregon side) 9. 000 

Astoria Packing Co 30, 000 

Elmore Packing Co 7. 890 

Astoria Fishery (M. J. Kinney). 20, 000 

Wm. Hume- . .' '- - - 20. 000 

Geo. W. Hume ]8, 000 

Deylin & Co 20, 000 

Occident Packing Co 15, 000 

West Coast 15,000 

Badollet&Co 25,000 

Booth & Co 23,000 

Eagle Cannery 17, 300 

Timmins & Co 8, 000 

Fishermen's Packing Co 19, 000 

S. D. Adair & Co 10, 000 

Anglo-American Packing Co. . . . 10, 300 

Hanthorn & Co 19. 000 

Scandinayian Co 20, 000 

J. W. & V. Cook 30,000 

An interesting compilation prepared by the Portland Board of 
Trade « shows the total product in cases, the price per case of 48 
pounds, and the price for each fish paid by the canneries to the 
fishermen from 1866 to 1881: 



F. M. Warren 12.000 

J. West 12,000 

Jackson & Myers (2 canneries) . . 13, 000 
Aberdeen Packing Co. (Wash- 
ington Territory side) 17, 000 

Jos. Hume, Knappton 20, 225 

Pillar Rock Co 15, 000 

J. G. Megler&Co 25,000 

Columbia Canning Co 8, 000 

R. D.Hume & Co 8,300 

Cathlamet Cannery 8, 000 

Jas. Quinn 5. 000 

Cutting & Co 20, 000 

Eureka Packing Co 20.000 

Hapgood & Co 13, 000 

Eagle Cliff Cannery 10, 000 



Total 549, 115 



Year. 



1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 



Total 
product. 



4,000 
18,000 
28,000 
100, 000 
150,000 
200,000 
2.50, 000 
250,000 



Price. 



S16.00 
13.00 
12.00 
10. 00 
9.00 
9.50 
8.00 
7.00 



Cost of 
fish. 



Cents. 
15 
15 
20 
20 
20 
22j. 
25 
25 



Year. 



1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
187S 
1879 
1881 
1881 



Total 
product. 



350,000 
375,000 
450,000 
460, 000 
460,000 
480,000 
530,000 
550,000 



Price. 



$6.50 
5.60 
4.50 
5.20 
5.00 
4.60 
4.80 
5.00 



Cost of 
fish. 



Cents. 



a The Commerce and Industries of the Pacific Coast of North America, pp. 372, 373. By John S. Hit- 
teU. San Francisco, 1882. 



30 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

The banner year in the canning industry was 1884, when 620,000 
cases of chinook salmon were marketed. At this time the runs were 
so enormous that tons and tons of salmon were thrown overboard 
by the fishermen because the canneries were unal)le to handle them. 

As in other sections, there came a time when the market began to 
be glutted by the packs of the numerous canneries, and it was found 
necessary to combine some of the plants in order to operate more 
cheaply and also to reduce the output. 

In 1885 W. H. Barker and George H. George, who had been con- 
nected with various canneries, formed a partnership as George & 
Barker and purchased the Astoria cannery oi the Port Adams Packing 
Co., then 2 years old. 

Shortly before this a combination which was named the Eureka & 
Epicure Packing Co. had been formed and comprised the following 
plants: Knappton Packing Co., Knappton; North Shore Packing 
Co., just below Knappton; and the Eureka Packing Co. This 
combination got into financial difficulties, and the reorganizers per- 
suaded George & Barker to join the combination and take charge. 

In 1887 the Eureka & Epicure Packing Co., the plants of Samuel 
Elmore, M. J. Kinney, and J. W. Seaborg, all of Astoria; J. O. Han- 
thorn & Co., Astoria ; Fishermen's Packing Co., Astoria ; Scandinavian 
Packing Co., Astoria; Columbia Canning Co., and J. W. & V. Cook, 
Clifton, were combined under the name of the Columbia River 
Packers Association. In 1889 the association built a new cannery 
at Rooster Rock. Mr. George was with the association until his 
death, but Mr. Barker left it to become general manager of the 
British Columbia Packers Association, where he is at present, the 
dean of the Pacific coast cannerymen. 

Early in the eighties the California Can Co. was engaged in the 
business of making cans in San Francisco. Later the Pacific Sheet 
Metal Works absorbed the company. A factory was started at Asto- 
ria, with Mr. F. P. Kendall in charge. The latter, who is one of the 
deans of the industry, has had a long and interesting connection with 
all branches of the industry and in most sections. The American 
Can Co. later on bought the Pacific Sheet Metal Works, and the 
Astoria plant was moved to Portland. 

The American Can Co. was the first to install sanitary can-packing 
machinery in the salmon industry, the venture being made in 1911, 
at the Sanborn-Cutting plant in Astoria. 

At the present time (1919) there are 21 canneries in operation on 
the river, while large quantities of salmon are also frozen, mild cured, 
pickled, smoked, and sold fresh in the markets of the world. 

Conmiercial fishing is carried on mainly between the mouth of the 
Columbia and Celilo, a distance of about 200 miles, and in the Wil- 
lamette River. The most of it is in the lower part of the river, within 
about 40 miles of its mouth. Bakers Bay, on the Washington or 
north side, and just within the river's mouth, is the favorite ground 
for pound-net fishing. The principal gill-net drifting ground is from 
the river's mouth to about 20 miles above Astoria, but drifting is 
done wherever convenient reaches are found much farther up the 
river. Most of the drag seines are hauled on the sandy bars in the 
river near Astoria, which are uncovered at low water. Wheels are 
operated in the upper river above the junction of the Willamette 
with the main river. 



PACIFIC SAI,MON FISHERIES. 31 

Astoria is the principal center for all branches of the. industry, but 
more especially for canning. Other places in addition to Astoria at 
which canneries are located are Ilwaco, Eagle ClilT, Altoona, Brook- 
field, Pillar Rock, Cathlamet, on the Washington shore, and at 
Warrendale, Rooster Rock, and Seuferts, on the Oregon shore. 

OREGON. 

Necanicum Creelc. — This short stream is in Clatsop County and 
enters the Pacific Ocean about 10 miles south of the Columbia River. 
Its fisheries are of small importance. 

Nehalem Rwer. — The Nehalem is a small coastal river that rises 
in the mountains of Clatsop and Columbia Counties, and flows into 
the Pacific Ocean in the northern part of Tillamook County. As early 
as 1887 there was a small cannery here, and the business has been 
followed ever since. In 1911 an additional plant was built and both 
have operated each year since, except in 1913, when one was shut 
down. 

Tillamook Bay and River. — Tillamook River is a very short stream 
which enters Tillamook Bay, the latter being in Tillamook County 
and about 45 miles south of the mouth of the Columbia River. 

Fishing is carried on mainly in the bay. The earliest record we 
have of canneries on this bay is of 1886, wdien two were in operation. 
From 1891 to 1910 but one was operated, but in 1911 another plant 
was started. In 1915 a third cannery was built, and all three oper- 
ated until 1918, when only one was in operation. In 1919, two 
operated. 

Nestugga River. — This stream enters the ocean in the southwestern 
part of Tillamook County. A cannery operated here in 1887 and the 
business has been carried on each season with but one intermission 
since 1905. 

i Siletz River. — This river has its source in the mountains of Polk 
iCounty and enters the ocean in the northern part of lincoln County. 
The commercial development of the fisheries was hampered for many 
lyears owing to the fact that the river was within the boundaries of 
what was then the Siletz Indian Reservation. Tlie first cannery 
was established here in 1896. An additional one was built in 1918. 

Yaquina Bay and River. — The Yaquina ("crooked") River is 
jabout 60 miles long; its general course is nearly west through the 
county of Benton. The river is narrow throughout the greater part 
of its length. A few miles from its mouth it suddenl}" broadens out 
jinto an estuary from one-half to three-fourths of a mile wide, which 
lis commonly called Yaquina Bay. The river enters the Pacific about 
jlOO miles south of the Columbia. 

! Salmon canning was begun on this river in 1887, when two small 
Icanneries were constructed. The next year an additional plant was 
{erected. The business has fluctuated considerably since then and 
there is now but one cannery, which has not been operated since 1911. 
jln 1917 this plant was consolidated with the one at Waldport. 
■ The fishing grounds are all in the bay and the lower section of the 
river. The fishermen of this section are fortunate in that they have 
railroad communication with the outside world. 

j Alsea Bay and River. ^AlsesL River rises in the southwestern part 
iof Benton County, and flows in nearly a northwesterly direction to 



32 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

the Pacific, a distance of about 60 miles. Like the Yaquina, the 
"bay" is merely a broadening out of the river just inside its mouth. 

The first cannery was estabUshed in 1886 and by 1888 there were 
three in operation. For many years but one was operated. In 1911 
and each season since two canneries have been operated. 

The best fishing grounds are from the mouth of the river to about 
5 miles inland. 

Siuslaw River. — -This river has its source in the mountains of Lane 
County, and its course lies first in a northwesterly direction and to 
the westward until the Pacific is reached. Through part of its 
course it is the dividing line between Lane and Douglas Counties. 
In 1915 a railroad line from Eugene to the mouth of the Siuslaw 
River, at which point it connected with a line to the CoquiUe River, 
was opened for traffic. 

As early as 1878 there were two canneries operated on this river, 
but from 1879 till 1888 there are no data available showing the extent 
of the fisheries. In 1888 the Florence Canning Co., the Lone Star 
Packing Co., and the Elhiore Packing Co. each operated a cannery. 
In 1896 A. W. Hurd built a cannery which was destroyed by fire in 
1908. At present there are two canneries, but of recent years only 
one has been operated. The opening of a railroad line from Eugene 
to here, thus furnishing an outlet for fresh salmon shipments, will 
doubtless greatly help in developing its fisheries. 

The salmon fishing grounds extend from near the mouth of the; 
river to about 20 miles upstream. 

Umpqua River. — With the exception of the Columbia this is the 
largest and longest river in Oregon. It is formed by north and 
south forks, which unite about 9 miles northwest of Roseburg, and 
the river then flows northwestwardly and enters the Pacific. Prac- 
tically all of this river is within the boundaries of Douglas County, 
one of the largest counties in the State. A railroad has recently been 
built along this river and in time there will doubtless be a large de- 
velopment of the fisheries of this region owing to the opportunities 
which will be offered for shipping fresh fish. 

With the exception of Rogue River, this is the only river in Oregon 
south of the Columbia River in which a spring run of chinook salmon 
occurs. 

As early as 1878 there were two canneries located on the Umpqua, 
one of which was built by George W. Hume. The number has never 
been larger than this, and -usually there has been but one operating. 
In 1912 there was but one at Gardiner. In 1919 one was operated. 

In 1918 the Reedsport Fish Co., of Reedsport, purchased the can- 
nery of the Umpqua Cooperative Co., at Gardiner. 

Coos Bay and River. — Coos Bay is a navigable semicircular inlet 
of the ocean with numerous arms or branches. There is much 
marshy ground in the bay, and a number of sloughs, or small creeks, 
which empty into the bay from both sides. Coos River proper is an 
unimportant: stream, but a few miles in length. North Bend, Marsh- 
field, and Empire are the principal towns on the bay. A branch 
railroad is being built to these points from the main line of the South- 
ern Pacific Railway, and as soon as this is completed the fishing in- 
dustry will receive a great impetus. Heretofore this region has de- 
pended upon steamers and sailing vessels plying to Portland and 
ban Francisco for its communication with the outside world, and 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 33 

this slow and infrequent means of shipment has verT- seriously handi- 
capped the fisheries. 

Salmon canning began here in 1887, when two canneries opened for 
business. The business has fluctuated considerably since, most of 
the time but one cannery being operated; none was operated in 1919. 

Fishing is carried on mainly in the bay. A few set nets are operated 
in the river. 

Coquille River. — This river is formed by three branches, called the 
North, Middle, and South Forks, which rise in the Umpqua Moun- 
tains and unite near Myrtle Point, the head of tidewater, about 45 
miles by river from the mouth of the stream. It is a deep and slug- 
gish river, with no natural obstructions to hinder the free passage of 
fish. Its fisheries have been seriously hampered by the lack of rail- 
road communication, but this has recently been remedied, as the rail- 
road to Coos Bay connects with a short line now in existence between 
the Coquille River and Coos Bay, and thence on to the Siuslaw and 
from there to Eugene. 

The principal towns on the Coquille River are Bandon, Prosper, 
Coquille, ancl Myrtle Point. Bandon is the shipping port. 

Pickled salmon were cured and shipped from this river very early, 
the first recorded instance of any considerable quantity being m 1877, 
when 3,000 barrels of salmon were sent to San Francisco. The salt 
shipments were important until within recent years. The first salmon 
cannery was erected in 1883, at Parkersburg. In 1886 another was 
built at the same place, and the following year still another was 
erected close by. This wa^- the largest number ever in operation in 
any one year. Since 1909 two canneries have been operated, both at 
Prosper. In 1916 the Macleay estate took over the Coquille River 
Fishermen's Cooperative Co.'s cannery near Bandon. 

The fishing grounds are from the mouth to Myrtle Point, about 45 
miles inland. 

Sixes River. — This small river is located in the norther part of 
Curry County, and is about 40 miles in length, cnterin?; t e Pacific 
a very short distance above Cape Blanco. The salmon caught here 
are either salted or shipped fresh to the canneries on the Coquille 
River. 

ElJc River. — This is another small stream about 40 miles in length, 
which enters the Pacific just south of Cape Blanco. As on the Sixes 
River, the salmon are either salted or sold fresh to the canneries on 
the Coquille River. 

Rogue River. — This river has as its source Crater Lake in the Cas- 
cade Mountains, on the western border of Klamath County, flow- 
ing a distance of about 325 miles to the ocean, which it enters at 
Wedderburn. Its principal tributaries are the Illinois, Applegate, 
and Stewart Rivers. Owing to canyons and falls in the mam river 
between the mouth of the Illinois River and Hellgate, the latter 
near Hogan Creek which runs through the town of Merlin, naviga- 
tion and fishing are impossible in that section. Except at the mouth 
of the river the population is very sparse until about the neighbor- 
hood of Hogan Creek, where the river approaches the railroad, and 
from here on for some miles there are numerous growing towns. 

Owing to the fact of there being both a spring and a fall run of 
[Salmon in this river, the fisheries early became of importance, 

11312°— 21 3 



34 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

although sadly hampered because of being compelled to depend 
wholly on vessel communication with San Francisco, many miles 
away. In the early years the salmon were pickled and shipped to 
San Francisco. Strong, Baldwin & Co. started in the busmess as 
early as 1859. In 1877 R. D. Hume, who had been canning salmon 
on the Colmnbia River, removed to the Rogue River, and established 
near the mouth a cannery which he operated every season (except 
1894, when the cannery burned down) until his death in November, 
1908, after which date it was operated by his heirs. Mr. Hume also 
operated a large cold-storage plant at Wedderburn for several years. 

The development of the fisheries of the lower Rogue River was 
very much hampered by the monopoly which Mr. Hume acquired 
and maintained until his death. He bought both shores of the river 
for 12 miles from its mouth, and also owned an unbroken frontage on 
the ocean shore extending 7 miles north from the mouth of the river. 
As a result of this, independent fishermen could find no convenient 
places for landing, which was necessary in order to cure, handle, and 
ship the fish caught. Since Mr. Hume's death the property has been 
sold to the Macleay estate, but the people of Oregon, upon an initia- 
tive and referendum petition, voted in 1910 to close Rogue River to 
all commercial fishing, and it was so closed in 1911 and 1912 but re- 
opened in 1913. A second cannery was built here in 1915 by the 
Seaborg Canning Co. 

In the upper river ranchers living along the banks have engaged in 
fishing for a number of years, the catch for the most part being sold 
fresh. In recent years, as the country has developed, this fishery has 
become fairly important. 

Chetco and Windcliuck Rivers. — These two unimportant streams 
empty into the Pacific in the lower part of Curry County, not far 
from the California line. The former is about 20 miles and the latter 
about 25 miles in length. Both have runs of salmon, and small fish- 
eries have been maintained for some years, the catch being either 
pickled or sold to the California canneries. 

CALIFORNIA. 

Smith River. — This river, which is the most northerly one in the 
State, rises near the Siskiyou Mountains, and runs in a westerly 
direction to the Pacific Ocean. 

_ The river has only a spring run of salmon, and the early recorded 
history of the fisheries is fragmentary. The pickling of salmon was 
the main business at first and has been important ever since, as the 
cannery, which was first established in 1878, operated irregularly, 
and seems to have shut down entirely in 1895. Canning began agaiii 
in 1914 by H. E. Westbrook and has been prosecuted each year 
since. 

Klamath River. — This is the most important river in California 
north of the Sacramento. It issues from the Lower Klamath Lake 
in Klamath County, Oreg., and runs southwesterly across Siskiyou 
County, passes through the southeastern section of Del Norte County, 
keeping its southerly course into Humboldt County, where it forms 
a junction with the Trinity River, and thence its course is directed 
to the northwest until it reaches the Pacific Ocean. 

The Klamath River is important as a salmon stream because it has 
both a spring and fall run of salmon. In 1888 a cannery was estab- 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 35 

lished at Eeqiia. at the month, and this has been operated occasion- 
ally ever since. The pickling of salmon has been done here for a 
number of years. Some years part of the catch has been shipped 
fresh to the cannery on Smith River or to the Rogue River (Oreg.) 
cannery. Since 1908 the cannery has been operated continuously by 
the Klamath River Packers Association. 

Humboldt Bay and tributaries. — The shore line of Humboldt County 
is bold and high, except in the vicinity of Humboldt Bay, where it 
is rather flat. The latter is the only harbor along the coimty shore, 
and it is nuite difhcult of access, owing to the bar at the entrance 
upon wliicn the sea breaks quite heavily. The bay is about 12 miles 
long and about 3 miles wide. Mad River, which has its rise in the 
lower part of Trinity County, runs in a northwcstly direction, then 
makes a sharp turn and enters the bay from the north side. Eel 
River, which has its rise in Lake County, far to the southeast, runs in 
a northwesterly direction and enters the bay at its southern extrem- 
ity. Small railroads running south from Eureka traverse the shores 
of both rivers for some miles. A railroad now runs from the north 
side of San Francisco Bay to Eureka, and it has aided very materially 
in extending the market "for salmon caught in these rivers. 

Mattole Kiver. — This is a small and unimportant river in the south- 
ern part of Humboldt County, and is said to have a good run of 
salmon each year, but no commercial fishing has as yet been carried 
on here. 

Noyo River.- — In 1915 salmon fishing be^an at Fort Bragg, in 
Mendocino County, where the Noyo River debouches into the ocean. 
The building of a branch railroad to this point made the shipping 
of salmon a possibility. In 1915 and 1916 considerable salmon 
were caught and shipped fresh. In 1917 the Tillamook Ice & Cold 
Storage Co., built and operated a cannery here, while the Columbia & 
Northern Fishing & Packing Co., in the same year built and operated 
a cold-storage and mild-curing plant. 

Sacramento and San Joaquin Rivers. — ^These two rivers are the 
most important rivers in California. The Sacramento is quite crooked, 
the distance by river from Red Bluff to San Francisco being about 
375 miles, while the distance by rail betv/een these two places is only 
225 miles. The river rises in several small lakes in the mountains 
about 20 miles west of Sisson, in Siskiyou County, and for nearly 
half its length flows through a narrow canyon. The upper portion 
is a typical mountain stream, vnth. innumerable pools and rapids. A 
little above Redding the river emerges from the canyon and widens 
into a broad shallow stream. Below Sacramento it runs tlu-ough a 
level country and is affected by tides. Sloughs are numerous in this 
stretch, some connecting it with the San Joaquin. The Sacramento 
and San Joaquin Rivers join as they empty into Suisun Ba3\ 

The principal tributaries of the Sacramento which are frequented 
by salmon are the Pit and McCloud Rivers and Battle Creek. At one 
time salmon frequented the American and Feather Rivers, but min- 
ing and irrigation operations along these streams either kiileel them 
off or elrove them away. 

The San Joaquin River has its source in the Sierra Nevada Moun- 
tains. Flowing westerly and forming the boundary between Fresno 
and Maelera Counties for a considerable distance, it then turns 
abruptly to the north just where it is joined by Fresno Slough, which 



36 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

drains Lake Tulare. From here its general course is northwesterly i 
until it joins the Sacramento River, near the latter's mouth. The '< 
Chouchilla and Fresno Rivers are the principal tributaries of the - 
San Joaquin. 

The principal fishing grounds for salmon are Suisun Bay, thel 
lower part of San Joaquin River, and the Sacramento River as 
high as the vicinity of Sacramento. Drift gill nets are used almost 
exclusively in this section. From Sacramento to Anderson there is j 
considerable commercial fishing, more particularly with haul seines. 

Owing to the early and excellent railroad facilities which the fish- 
eries of the Sacramento River have enjoyed, they have not been 
handicapped so seriously as most of the other Pacific coast rivers in 
finding profitable outlets for the catch. Soon after the first trans- 
continental line was opened the shipping of fresh salmon to eastern 
points began, and it has been an important feature of the industry 
ever since. j 

The chief event in the history of the salmon fisheries of this river^ 
is the fact that the canning of salmon on the Pacific coast had its'- 
inception here in 1864. The circumstances leading up to this event 
and its consummation are interestingly told by R. D. Hume in the 
following words : 

The first salmon cannery of the United States was located at Washington, Yolo 
County, Calif. A part of the building was originally a cabin situated on the river 
bank outside of the levee just opposite the foot of K Street, Sacramento City. It was 
built in 1852 and occupied by James Booker, Percy Woodsom, and William Hume. 
William Hume came to California in the spring of 1852, bringing vnth him a salmon 
gill net which he had made before leaving his home at Augusta, Me. In company 
with James Booker and Percy Woodsom, Mr. Hume began fishing for salmon in the 
Sacramento River just in front of the city of Sacramento. William Hume had been 
salmon fishing in the Kennebec River in the State of !Maine with his father, where his 
father and grandfather had been engaged in the sam^e business since 1780, and their 
ancestors in Scotland had for pleasure pursued the sportive salmon on the Tweed and 
Tay for centuries before. In 1856 William Hume went back to Maine, and on hia 
return to California the same year was accompanied by his brothers, John and 
G. W. Hume, who also engaged in salmon fishing in the Sacramento River. Among the 
schoolmates of G. W. Hume was one Andrew S. Hapgood, who had learned the tin- 
smith's trade, and who a short time after G. W. Hume left for California went to Bos- 
ton and entered the employ of J. B. Hamblen, a pioneer in the canning business, 
and was sent by him to Fox Island on the coast of Maine to engage in canning lobsters. 
The canning of lobster was a new and gro^nang industry, and Mr. Hamblen, to increase 
his business, a short time after sent Mr. Hapgood to the Bay of Chaleur, an arm of the 
sea which divides the Province of Quebec from that of New Brunswick, where, in 
addition to the canning of lobster, they also canned a few salmon. I believe this was ■ 
the first salmon canned on the American Continent, and I am informed that the busi- 
ness in a small way is still carried on in that section of the country. In 1863 G. W. 
Hume went back to Maine, and while there visited Mr. Hapgood at Fox Island, to 
which place he had been again sent by J. B. Hamblen to take charge of the works at 
that place. During the visit of G. W. Hume to his friend Hapgood a talk about salmon 
was had, and it was agreed that if salmon on the Pacific coast were as plentiful as 
represented by Mr. Hume muc^ money could be made in a salmon-cannery business. 
The plan decided on was that G. W. Hume, on his return to California, should try and 
induce bis brother William to engage in the business with them, and, if he succeeded ■ 
in so doing, Mr. Hapgood should purchase the necessary machinery and come out to > 
California in time for the spring season of 1864. William Hume being agreeable to 
take part in the enterprise, Mr. Hapgood set out on the journey and arrived at San 
Francisco on March 23, 1864, and a few days later at the location where the operations 
were afterwards conducted. o 



a The description of the machinery used and the methods of canning have been quoted in full under 
' Canning ' ' elsewhere in this report. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 37 

For a considerable time after the salmou-cannina; business was inaugurated the pack- 
ers suspended operations in the early part of July of each year as at that time the 
market ■would take only goods which showed a rich oil and the best food values.^ 

The l)usiness languished after the firm estabUshed its cannery on 
'the Colunil)ia River, but in 1874 was renewed again by others and 
continued witli varying success until 1905, when it ceased tempo- 
rarily, owing to the smaller quantity of fish available and the diffi- 
culty of competing with the mild-cure packers and the fresh-fish deal- 
ers. Several times since small packs have been made when, for 
some reason, mild-curing was unprofitable. 

Monterey Bay. — -The rirst harbor south of San Francisco is Mon- 
terey Bay, a large indentation cutting into Santa Cruz and Monterey 
Counties. Only a portion of it is well sheltered, however. For a 
number of years it had been known that salmon frequented the 
waters of this bay for the purpose of feeding on the young fishes 
which swarmed there. Sportsmen frequently caught them with rod 
and reel, but it was not until the early eighties that the industry 
was established on a commercial basis. It has since grown very 
rapidly. The catch has either been mild cured at Monterey or 
shipped fresh. A few have been canned in recent years. 

ALASKA. & 

Alaska is the most favored salmon-fishing region. Many rivers, 
some of great length and draining enormous areas, intersect the dis- 
trict in every direction, while the number of small creeks is countless. 
Almost every one of these have runs of salmon of varying abundance. 
The principal streams entering Bering Sea are the Yukon, Kus- 
kokwim, Togiak, Nushagak, Kvichak, Naknek, Ugaguk, and 
Ugashik; in central Alaska the Chignik, Karluk, Alitak, Susitna, and 
Copper Rivers are the main streams, while in southeast Alaska are 
found, among many others, the Anklow, Situk, Alsek, Chilkat, Cliil- 
koot, Taku, Stikine, and Unuk Rivers. Most of the fishing in Alaska 
is carried on in the bays into which these rivers debouch. In south- 
east Alaska, which is composed largely of islands, the fishing is carried 
on mainly in the bays, sounds, and straits among these. 

Even before the purchase of the district from Russia in 1867 our 
fishermen occasionally resorted to southeast Alaska and prepared 
salted salmon. The salmon fisheries did not become important, how- 
ever, until canning was begun. 

SOUTHEAST ALASKA, 

One of the most favorable sections for carrying on fishing 
operations is southeast Alaska. Here a narrow strip of main- 
land, about 30 miles wide, separates British Columbia from salt 
water and forms the ''panhandle " of Alaska. Outside this is a fringe 
of numerous islands, large and small, close to the coast line, conform- 

a The First Salmon Cannery. By R. D. Hume. Pacific Fisherman, Seattle, Wash., Vol. II, No. 1, 
January, 1904, pj). 19-21. 

b Tlic material for the history of the salmon fisheries of Alaska for the period from the inception ofsalmon 
canning to 1900 was obtained almost wholly from the following excellent and vahialle reports by Capt. 
Jefferson V. Moser, to whom I am deeply indebted for this and other valuable data: 

The Salmon and Salmon Fisheries of Alaska. Report of the Operations of the United States Fish Com- 
mission Steamer A Ibalross for the Year ended June 30, 1898. By Jefferson F. Moser. Bulletin, U. S. Fish 
Commission, ISGS, Vol. XVni. pp. 1-178. Washington, 1S99. 

Alaska Salmon Investigations in 1900 and 1901. I5v Jefferson F. Moser. Bulletin, U. S. Fish Commis- 
sion, 1901, Vol. XXI, pp. 173-398. Washipgtou, 1902. 



38 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

ing to its irregularities and separated from it and from each other 
by deep straits and channels. These islands, about 1,100 in number, 
extend from the coast an average distance of about 75 miles and along 
the general contour for about 250 miles. Some of these islands are 
very large, indented with deep bays and sounds, and they in turn 
fringed with smaller islands. 

The largest streams in this region are the Unuk, Stikine, Taku, and 
Chilkat, all of which take their source in the interior and drain con- 
siderable areas. The other rivers are usually streams, and the greater 
number are simply outlets to a lake or system of lakes. 

All species of salmon are to be found in this region, but the hump- 
back is by far the most abundant. 

This region has been the favorite fishing ground for the smaller 
operators, although a few of the largest canneries in Alaska are 
located here. Of receht years transportation facilities have been 
exceedingly good and fairly cheap, while the nearness to the State? 
and the considerable resident population which could be drawn upon 
for labor have been big factors in its development. 

The Russians did considerable salting of salmon. Petroff, in his 
report in the Tenth Census on the "Population, industries, and re- 
sources of Alaska," writes as follows of the Redoubt near wSitka: 
"The once famous Redoubt or deep-lake salmon fishery on Baranof 
Island, which at one time during the Russian rule supplied this 
whole region, and whence 2,000 barrels of salmon were shipped in 
1868, now lies idle." 

Bancroft" in speaking of the king salmon of Alaska says: "So 
choice is its flavor, that during the regime of the Russian American 
Co. several barrels of the salted fish were shipped each season to St. 
Petersburg for the use of the friends of the company's officials." 

One of the earliest operators in southeast Alaska was a Greek, or 
Slav, named Baronovich, who married the daughter of Skowl, one 
of the old-time chiefs of the Kasaans, and received from him the 
fishery on Karta Bay, a part of Kasaan Bay, and one of the best red 
salmon streams south of Wrangell Narrows. Baronovich built a 
saltery here, kept a store and traded with the Indians. He died some 
years ago, and for some time after his death his sons operated it. 
It finally collapsed a couple of years ago. 

For a number of years a saltery was operated at Klawak, on the 
west coast of Prince of Wales Island. In 1878 the North Pacific 
Trading & Packing Co. purchased the saltery and erected the first 
cannery in Alaska here. A pack was made the same year, and the 
plant has operated every year since. In 1899 the cannery burned 
down, but it was immediately rebuilt on the opposite side of the bay. 
For some years this plant was operated almost exclusively with 
native labor, and at present the majority employed are natives. 

The same year that the above cannery was established the Cutting 
Packing Co. built a cannery at old Sitka, and operated it in 1878 and 
1879, then it was closed down. In 1882 the machinery was taken 
by another company to Cook Inlet. 

In 1882 M. J. Kinney, of Astoria, under the name of the Chilkat 
Packing Co., built a cannery on the eastern shore of Chilkat inlet and 
made a pack the same year. The cannery changed hands several times 

o History of Alaska, Vol. XXXHI, p. OGl. By Hubert Howe Bancroft. San Francisco, 1886. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 3d 

and finally was burned in 1892, and not rebuilt. The cannery packed 
every year from 1883 to 1891, both inclusive, except in 1888, when 
it was closed. 

In 1883 the Northwest Trading Co. built a cannery on Pyramid 
Harbor, a httle bay on the western side of Chilkat Inlet. It was 
operated by this company in 1883 and 1884, was idle in 1885, and in 
1888 was sold to D. L. Beck & Sons, of San Francisco, and operated 
by that firm. In the spring of 1889 it was burned, but was rebuilt at 
once and a pack made that year. In 1893 it joined the Alaska 
Packers Association, which operated it, except in 1905, until the end 
of the season of 1908, when it was finally abandoned. 

On the north shore of Boca de Quadra, about 8 miles from the 
entrance, a cannery was built in 1883 by M. J. Kinney, of Astoria, and 
operated under the name of the Cape Fox Packing Co. from 1883 to 
1886. Late in the last-named year it was sold and moved to Ketchi- 
kan, operating there under the name of the Tongass Packing Co. 
during 1887, 1888, and until August, 1889, when it was burned and 
not rebuilt. 

In 1886 Rhode & Johnson erected a saltery at Yes Bay. The fol- 
lowing year the firm became Ford, Rhode & Johnson. In 1887 work 
was begun on a cannery which was finished in 1888. Packing was 
begun in 1889 under the name of the Boston Fishing & Trading Co. 
In 1901 it was included in the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. con- 
solidation, and when that concern failed was purchased in 1905 by 
the Northwestern Fisheries Co. In 1906 the cannery was purchased 
by C. A. Burckhardt & Co., who have operated it each year to date, 
either under that name or subsequent mcorporations known as the 
Yes Bay Canning Co. and the Alaska Pacific Fisheries. 

In 1887 the Aberdeen Packing Co. of Astoria, Oreg,, built a can- 
aery on the Stikine River, about 8 miles above the mouth. In 1889 
the cannery was moved to Point Highfield, on the northern end of- 
Wrangell Island, and operations commenced under the name of the 
Grlacier Packing Co. In 1893 it joined the Alaska Packers Associa- 
tion, who have operated it continuously, except in 1905. 

The Loring cannery of the Alaska Packers Association was built in 
1888 by the Alaska Salmon Packing & Fur Co., of San Francisco, and 
operated by the Cutting Packing Co. The company was incorporated 
11 1 883 and operated a saltery until the cannery was built. When the 
Alaska Packers Association was formed in 1893 it joined that organi- 
sation. The cannery has operated every year since it was built, and 
n some seasons has made the largest pack of any in the Territory. 

Shortly after William Duncan ana his community of Tsimpsean 

Indians had settled, in 1887, on Annette Island, which island had 

)een set aside by the Federal Government as a reserve for them, 

)lans were under way for a salmon cannery, but funds came in so 

ilowly that it was not until 1890 that any pack was attempted. In 

1 891 it was in full operation, and operated from then continuously 

mtil 1913, when the plant was shut down for that and the two suc- 

■ needing years. Much dissatisfaction had been expressed by the 

tiatives over the operation of this and other industrial plants on the 

■sland, and finally the Federal authorities took possession of prac- 

ically everything, as guardian of the natives, and early in 1916 

eased the cannery to P. E. Harris & Co., of Seattle, the understand- 

ng being that they were to employ natives when available. Un- 



40 tr. s. BUREAU or fisheries. 

fortunately the plant burned down on May 17, just before the fishing 
season began, in 1918 the Annette Island Packing Co. built and 
operated a cannery here. 

For the piu'pose of assisting the natives of Annette Island in 
operating this cannery the President in 1916 issued a proclamation 
making a fishery reserve of the island and among other things pro- 
vided that — 

the waters within 3,000 feet from the shore lines at mean low tide of Annette Island, 
Ham Island, Walker Island, Lewis Island, Spire Island, Hemlock Island, and adja- 
cent rocks and islets, located within the area segregated by the broken line upon the 
diagram hereto attached, and made a part of the proclamation, also the bays of said 
islands, rocks,' and islets, are hereby reserved for the benefit of the Metlakahtlans 
and such other Alaskan natives as have joined them or may join them in residence 
on these islands, to be used by them under the general fisheries laws and regulations 
of the United States as administered by the Secretary of Commerce. 

One white trap net owner refused to remove his trap from the 
waters in question, and when decision was rendered against him in 
the lower court', carried the case to the United States Supreme Court, 
which, in December, 1918, upheld the right of the President to grant 
exclusive fishing rights in public waters. 

James Miller operated a saltery on Burroughs Bay, on Behm 
Canal, in 1886 and 1887. In 1888 Andrew and Benjamin Young, 
of Astoria, Oreg., built a cannery here and operated it under the 
name of the Cape Lees Packing Co. in 1888, 1889, and 1890. It 
was closed in 1891 and 1892. In 1893 it became a part of the Alaska 
Packers Association, and was dismantled the following year. 

About 1888 a saltery was established on Thome Bay, Prince of 
Wales Island. The following year it was sold to the Lormg cannery. 
In 1892 it was sold to Robert Bell, who moved it to the upper end of 
the northwest arm, on the western shore. Salting was not carried 
on each season, as it was sometimes found to be more profitable to 
sell the fish fresh to the canneries. The plant was finally abandoned. 

In 1889 Messrs. Sanborn and Ellmore, of Astoria, built a cannery 
in Pavlof Harbor, Freshwater Bay, on the eastern side of Chichagof 
Island, and operated it under the name of the Astoria & Alaska 
Packing Co. It made a pack that year and in the spring of 1890 
was moved to Point Ellis, on the eastern side of Kuiu Island, pack- 
ing that year and also in 1891. It was burned in May, 1892. Only 
one building was left standing, and it and the site were purchased by 
John H. Mantle, of Wrangell, who operated a saltery on each arm of 
the bay. Mr. Mantle began operations here in 1893. 

In 1889 the Baranof Packing Co. built and first operated a can- 
nery at the Redoubt, about 12 miles below Sitka. It was also oper- 
ated in 1890 and then moved to Redfish Bay, on the western coast 
of Baranof Island. It made its first pack here in 1891 and was then 
operated every year until 1898, when it was sold to the Alaska 
Packers Association and dismantled. 

In 1889 the Thlinket Packing Co., organized at Portland, Oreg., 
built a cannery at Point Gerard, on the mainland opposite Point 
Highfield, at the -head of Wrangell Island. It was operated that 
and the subsequent year. 

In 1901 this company built another cannery at Santa Anna, on 
the north side of Cleveland Peninsula, and made a pack the same 
year. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 41 

In 1901 both plants hecame part of the Pacific Packing & Navi- 
gation Co. Tn 1902 the Gerard Point plant was closed and was not 
opened again. In 1903, 1904, and 1905 the Santa Anna plant was 
closed also. Early in 1905 these plants were purchased by the 
Northwestern Fisheries Co. at the assignee's sale of the old corpora- 
tion's properties. The Santa Anna plant was operated in 1906 and 
has been operated each year since. 

The Chilkat Canning Co. put up a plant at Chilkat village, on 
Chilkat Inlet, in 1889. It was operated from 1889 to 1893, and 
then sold to the Alaska Packers Association. It was held in reserve 
for some j^ears but was finally dismantled. 

In 1889 D. Blauw, of Tacoma, Wash., built a saltery on Grouse 
Island, Boca de Quadra, and dry-salted dog salmon. He operated 
only one season. 

In 1890 a cannery was built by the Bartlett Bay Packing Co. on 
Bartlett Bay, Icy Straits, and operated by Williams, Brown & Co., 
of San Francisco. A saltery was constructed here prior to that date, 
and in 1889 a pack of 4,300 cases was made in a crude way. In 
1891 the ice piled up in Glacier Bay to such an extent that the cannery 
could do almost nothing. It was not operated after this date. In 
1893 it became a part of the Alaska Packers Association and was 
dismantled in 1894. 

About 1890 a saltery was established on the north shore of the 
mouth of Quadra Stream, on Boca de Quadra, by Clark & Martin. 
It was operated intermittently until about 1898, when it was aban- 
doned. The same parties also established a saltery at Ketchikan 
shortly after the one on Quadra vStream was built, and operated this 
until about 1898, when the plant was turned into a steamer wharf 
and warehouse for the new town of Ketchikan which was building 
up around it. 

In 1896 the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. built a cannery on the 
northern side of Hunter Bay, near the southern end of Prince of 
Wales Island, and made a pack the same year. Miller & Co. had a 
saltery at this place and it was purchased by the company and re- 
moved to make room for the cannery. Miller & Co. also had a saltery 
on Nutqua Inlet, which was built in 1896, and this also was sold to 
the canning company. In 1901 the cannery became a part of the 
Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. It was closed in 1904. Upon the 
dissolution of the company in 1905 this plant was purchased by the 
Northwestern Fisheries Co., which company, after keeping it closed 
in 1905 and 1906, has operated it each season since. 

The Quadra Packing Co. built a cannery on Mink Arm, in Boca 
de Quadra, in the spring of 1896 and made its first pack that year. 
In 1901 the plant was purchased by the Pacific Packing & Naviga- 
tion Co. It was closed in 1904, 1905, and 1906. Upon the dissolu- 
tion of the company in 1905 the plant was purchased by the North- 
western Fisheries Co. It was reopened in 1907 and has been oper- 
ated each season since. 

In 1897 a saltery was built on Taku Point, near the head of Taku 
Inlet. In 1898 and 1899 it was operated by the Quadra Packing Co. 
In 1900 the Icy Straits Pacldng Co. operated it. 

In 1897 a small saltery was in operation by Cyrus Orr at Point 
Barrie, Kupreanof Island. In the same year Walter Kosmikoff 



42 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

operated a small saltery at Shipley Bay, on Prince of Wales Island. 
In 1900 he sold it to the Icy Straits Packing Co. 

Fred Brockman in 1897 built and operated a small saltery on 
Sarkar Stream, Prince of Wales Island. Mr. Brockman operated 
this saltery intermittently until his death in 1915. 

In 1897 Banter & West were operating a saltery at Sukkwan, on 
Sukkwan Island. In the same year Miller & Co. started another 
saltery on Kassook Inlet, on Sukkwan Island, while Thomas Mc- 
Cauley was operating a saltery on Whale Passage. 

In 1899 the Icy Straits Packing Co., consisting of stockholders of 
the Quadra Packing Co., built a cannery and sawmill at a point on 
the southeastern shore of Wrangell Narrows, about a mile south of the 
northern entrance to same, and named the town site Petersburg. The 
cannery was ready and operated in 1900. In 1901 it became a part 
of the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. It was closed in 1903, 1904, 
and 1905. In 1905 it was purchased at the sale of the company's 
properties by the Northwestern Fisheries Co. In 1906 the Pacific 
Coast & Norway Packing Co., which had been operating a cannery 
at Tonka, on Wrangell Narrows, purchased this plant and transferred 
its activities to the latter. In 1915 the plant was leased to the 
Petersburg Packing Co., composed of stockholders of the old company. 

In 1900 the Western Fisheries Co., of Portland, built a cannery at 
the head of Dmidas Bay, and made a pack the same year. In 1901 
it became a part of the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co, It was 
closed in 1904. At the assignee's sale of the company's properties in 
1905 this plant was purchased by the Northwestern Fisheries Co. and 
operated m 1905 and each subsequent year. 

In 1900 the Fidalgo Island Packing Co. built a cannery on the 
southern side of Ketchikan Creek. A pack was made the same year. 
The plant was closed in 1903, only a little salting bemg done that year, 
was reopened in 1904, was closed again in 1905, and was reopened in 
1906, since when it has been operated each season to date, except in 
1909. 

In 1900 the Pacific Coast & Norway Packing Co. operated a floating 
saltery while prospecting for a cannery location. In 1901 the com- 
pany built a cannery at Tonka, about midway of Wrangell Narrows, 
on the western side, and made a pack in that and subsequent years 
until 1906. In that year the company purchased the Petersburg 
cannery and thenceforth operated from there. The Tonka plant was 
dismantled a few years later. 

In 1900 the Royer-Warnock Packing Co., of San Francisco, built 
a small cannery on Beecher Pass, which connects Duncan Canal with 
Wrangell Narrows, using the old Buck saltery for the cannery proper. 
It operated only the one season. It was a hand-pack plant. 

The Taku Fishing Co. in' 1900 built a cannery on the southern side 
of the entrance to Port Snettisham, and made a pack in that year. In 
1901 it became a part of the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. The 
plant was closed in 1902 and not reopened again. 

In 1900 the Taku Packing Co., organized in Astoria, Oreg., built a 
cannery on the western shore of Taku Inlet and made a pack the 
same year. In 1901 it became a part of the Pacific Packing & 
Navigation Co. It was closed in 1904 and not reopened again. 
In 1905 it became the property of the Northwestern Fisheries Co. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 43 

In 1900 the Chilkoot Packing Co., organized at Aberdeen, Wash., 
built a cannery at the head of Chilkoot Inlet, and operated the same 
year. In 190i it became a part of the Pacific Packmg & Navigation 
Co. It was closed in 1904 and not reopened again. 

In 1900 the Great Northern Fish Co. operated a floating saltery. 
Its principal business was salting dog salm.on for the Japanese 
trade, and it operated only one season. J. E. Rice, of Whatcom, 
Wash., in the same year packed dog salmon on Karta Bay for the 
same trade. 

The Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. (an account of whose incep- 
tion, operation, and failure appears under Puget Sound) was organ- 
ized in 1901 and acquired the following canneries in Alaska: Can- 
neries of Pacific Steam Whaling Co. at Nushagak, Bristol Bay; Chig- 
nik, Alaska Peninsula; Uyak, Kodiak Island; Kenai, Cook Inlet; 
Orca, Prince William Sound; Hunter Bay, southeast Alaska. Also 
the Hume Bros. & Hume canneries at Chignik and Uyak; the Thlinket 
Packing Co. with canneries at Gerard Point and Santa Anna; the 
Western Fisheries Co. cannery at Dmidas Bay, Icy Straits; Chilkoot 
Packing Co. cannery at Chilkoot Inlet; the Taku Packing Co. can- 
nery at Taku Inlet; the Taku Fishing Co. cannery at Port Snet- 
tisham; the Boston Fishiiig & Trading Co. cannery at Yes Bay; the 
Chatham Straits Packing Co. cannery on Sitkoh Bay; the Icy Straits 
Packing Co. cannery at Petersburg, Wrangell Narrows; and the 
Quadra Packing Co. cannery at Mink Arm, Boca de Quadra. 

The company met with financial disaster in 1904, and at the 
resulting sale most of its properties were bought by the North- 
western Fisheries Co., a corporation formed for the purpose. Of the 
Alaska canneries the Sitkoh Bay plant was sold to George T. Myers & 
Co., while the Orca plant was leased to Capt. Omar J. Humphreys, 
from whom the Northwestern Fisheries Co. later on secured it. 

The San Juan Fishing & Packing Co., of Seattle, established a 
cannery and cold-storage plant in 1901 at Taku Harbor, a small bay 
on the mainland a short distance south of Taku Inlet, and made a 
pack the same year. This plant was purchased in 1903 by the 
Pacific Cold Storage Co. and operated by it in 1903, 1904, and 1905. 
In 1906 it was leased and operated by the Taku- Alaska Packing Co. 
From 1907 to 1911 the plant was leased and operated by John L. 
Carlson & Co. In 1911 the plant was purchased by Mr. Carlson and 
the name changed to the Taku Canning & Cold Storage Co., mider 
which name it has been operated each year since. In 1918 it was 
purchased by Libby, McNeill & Libby. 

In 1901 the Chatham Straits Packing Co. built a cannery on Sitkoh 
Bay, Chichagof Island. The same year this cannery l)ecame apartof 
the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. Upon the dissolution of the 
latter, early in 1905, this plant was purchased by George T. Myers & 
Co., which company has operated it to date without a break. 

Li 1901 F. C. Barnes, of Portland, Oreg., built a cannery at Lake 
Bay, on the east side of Prince of Wales Island, and made a pack that 
season. This cannery was operated in 1902, but was closed in 1903. 
It was reopened in 1904, and operated each season after that. In 
1910 it was incorporated under the name of F. C. Barnes Co. 

In 1901 the Union Packing Co., organized in Tacoma. Wash., built 
& cannery on Kell Bay, an arm of Afileck Canal, on the southern side 



44 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

of Kuiu Island. In 1904 this plant was moved to the Kvichal 
River in Bering Sea. 

Buhring & Heckman operated a small saltery in Union Bay, on th; 
north side of Cleveland Peninsula, in 1901. Packing was carried on 
aboard a barge. 

In 1901 the Muir Glacier Packing Co. put up a saltery on Ideal 
Cove, Dry Pass, near Wrangell. It has operated mainly as a mild- 
cure station. It was closed down in 1903 but was opened in 1904. 
It was then closed in 1905, 1906, and 1907. It was opened in 1908 by 
K. J. Johansen and operated in 1908 and 1909. 

In 1902 the Kasaan Bay Co. built a cannery on the north side of 
Kasaan Ba,y, Prince of Wales Island, and made a j)ack the same year. 
It was shut down in 1904 and 1905, but reopened in 1906 by Gorman 
& Co., of Seattle, who had purchased control of the company. Shortly 
after the closing of the packing season the plant burned down, but it 
was rebuilt in time to operate the following season. In 1909 the plant 
was closed, butrwas reopened in 1910. On September 12 of that year 
the plant was again destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in time to operate 
the following season. On October 29, 1911, the plant was once 
more destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt in time to operate in 1912. 
In 1915 the plant w^as purchased and operated by the Anacortes 
Fisheries Co., a subsidiary of the Booth Fisheries Co. 

In 1902 the Alaska Fish & Lumber Co. built a cannery at Shakan, 
on Kosciusko Island, near the head of Prince of Wales Island, and 
made a pack the same year. It was shut down in 1904. In 1905 the 
property was taken over by the vShakan Salmon Co., a new company 
composed largely of members of the old corporation, who operated il 
that season. In 1906 Gorman & Co., of Seattle, obtained control oi' 
this cannerj^ and operated it each season under the name of the Sha- 
kan Salmon Co. until 1915, when it was sold to the Anacortes Fish- 
eries Co., a subsidiary of the Booth Fisheries Co. 

In 1902 the Columbia Canning Co. built a cannery on the southern 
side of Chilkoot Inlet, and made a pack that year. In 1910 C. A. 
Burckhardt & Co., under the name of the Chilkoot Fisheries Co., pur- 
chased and operated this plant. In 1911 the name was changed to 
the Alaska Pacific Fisheries. Early in 1919 the plant was totally 
destroyed by fire. 

The only cannery in this section lost to Alaska by action of the 
Federal Government was that of the Wales Island Packing Co., which 
was built on Wales Island, near Dixon Entrance, in 1902. When 
the Alaska Boundary Arbitration Commission declared Wales Island 
a part of Canada in 1903, tliis cannery automatically ceased to be an 
American one. After the change of government it lay idle for some 
time, but is now in use once more by Canadian parties. 

In 1902 the Thlinket Packing Co. built a cannery on Funter Bay, 
on the west side of Admiralty Island, and made a pack that year and 
every subsequent year to date. 

The same year the Pillar Bay Packing Co. built and operated a 
cannery near Point Ellis, on Kuiu Island, and operated it until 1918, 
when it was sold to the Fidalgo Island Packing Co. 

In 1902 the Alaska Fisheries Union, organized in Seattle, built a 
cannery on the east side of Chilkat Inlet, and made a pack that year. 
After operating to 1905, the plant was in that year leased to and 
operated by the Lynn Canal Packing Co. The plant was purchased 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 45 

in 1906 by the Pacific American Fisheries. In 1908 it was moved to 
Excursion Inlet and has l)een operated each season to date. 

The Tacoma Fishing Co. in 1902 established a saltery and halibut 
station at Tee Harbor, on Lynn Canal, and made a pack that year. 
Later it became the property of the International Fisheries Co. In 
1910 the plant was purchased by the Tee Harbor Packing Co., which 
established a cannery and operated first in 191 1. It has been operated 
each season since, being sold to the Alaska Pacific Fisheries Co. in 
1920. 

The Seattle-Scandinavian Fish Co. built a saltery on Snug Harbor, 
Tenakee Fnlet, Chichagof Island, in 1902, and made a pack. It packed 
in 1903 also, but shut down in 1904. The plant was leased in 1905, 
and then shut down for good. 

The Alaska Fish & Mining Co. built and operated a saltery at 
Revilla, on Tongass Narrows, during the single season of 1902, while 
the Rice Fisheries Co., in the same year, built and operated a saltery 
on Boca de Quadra. 

The United Fish Co., of Seattle, salted at Tolstoi Bay, east side 
of Prince of Wales Island, 1903 and 1904. 

In 1907 the Alsek Fisheries Co. did some salting on the Alsek River. 
Malcolm Campbell was interested in the above company and in sub- 
sequent years operated under his own name. In 1910 the St. Elias 
Packing Co. established a cannery near the saltery and made a pack 
the same year, and in 1911 and 1912. Since then the plant has been 
closed and was sold in 1916 to Libby, McNeill & Libby. 

The Astoria & Puget Sound Packing Co., in 1908, built and operated 
a cannery on Excursion Inlet. It was closed the following year, but 
has been operated each year since. It was burned in 1917, but was 
rebuilt in time to operate the following season. 

The year 1911 witnessed a considerable increase in the number of 
canneries. Among the new plants built and operated were the follow- 
ing: Hidden Inlet Canning Co., Hidden Inlet, Portland Canal; Hawk 
Fish Co. Qater changed to P. E. Harris & Co.) , Hawk Inlet, Admiralty 
Island; Lindenberger Packing Co., Roe Point, Behm Canal; Deep 
Sea Salmon Co., Cape Edwards, Chichagof Island; L. Gustave & Co., 
Skowl Arm, Prince of Wales Island (changed in 1912 to Skowl Arm 
Packing Co.), and M. E. Lane (a small hand-pack plant), Myers 
Chuck, Cleveland Peninsula. 

An innovation in Alaska salmon canning this year was when the 
old ship Glory of the Seas was fitted out as a floating cannery by the 
Alaska Fish Co., and operated in Hawk Inlet, Admiralty Island, and 
at Ketchikan. Quarters for the crew were built over the cabins on 
the quarter deck, the latter being reserved for officials. The remain- 
der of the upper deck was used for receiving, dressing, and cleaning 
the fish, which were brought on board by means of a portable elevator 
attached to the side of the ship. The "iron chink" and the sliming 
and cleaning tanks were also on this deck. Tlie fish were carried in 
chutes to the second deck, where a line of sanitar}^ machinery had 
been installed. The retorts were placed on the forward part of the 
second deck. The third deck was used for cooling and storing the 
pack. No lacquering or labeling was carried on aboard the vessel. 

In 1912 this plant and the ship William H. Smith, the latter by the 
Welding &, Independent Fisheries Co., of Seattle, were operated. 
The William H. Smith also did some freezins: of salmon. 



46 U' S. BUEEAU OF FISHERIES. 

In 1913 the Glory of the Seas was sold to the Glacier Fisheries Co., 
which operated it as a cold-storage plant. The floating cannery and 
cold-storage ship William H. Smim was not operated in Alaska during 
this season. 

In 1912 still more canneries were built, among these being the fol- 
lowing: Admiralty Trading Co., Gambler Bay, Admiralty Island; 
Alaska Sanitary Packing Co., Wrangell; Canoe Pass Packing Co., 
Canoe Pass ; Herbert Hume Packing Co., Nakat Inlet, Portland Canal ; 
Hoonah Packing Co., Hoonah, Icy Straits; Irving Packing Co., 
Karheen; Kake Packing Co., Kake; Kuiu Island Packing Co., Point 
Beauclaire, Kuiu Island; Lindenberger Packing Co., Craig, Fish Egg 
Island; Oceanic Packing Co., Waterfall; Point Warde Packing Co., 
Point Warde, Bradfield Canal; Pure Food Fish Co., Ketchikan; 
Revilla Fish Products Co., Ketchikan; Sanborn-Cram Co., Burnett 
Inlet; Starr-Collinson Packing Co., Moira Sound; Sunny Point Pack- 
ing Co., Cholmondeley Sound; Swift, Arthur & Co., Heceta Island; 
Walsh-Moore Canning Co., Ward Cove, and Wiese Packing Co., Rose 
Inlet. 

In 1913 the plant of Swift, Arthur & Co. was used as a mild-cure 
station alone, while the name was changed to the Swift-Arthur- 
Crosb}^ Co. The Alaska Fish Co. absorbed the Oceanic Packing Co. 
and transferred its activities to the former company's cannery at 
Waterfall. The following other plants were shut down: Canoe Pass 
Packing Co., Herbert Hume Packing Co., Point Warde Packing Co., 
and the Revilla Fish Products Co. 

In 1914 one new cannery was built. This was erected on George 
Inlet, Revillagigedo Island, by the George Inlet Packing Co. The 
canneries of the Point Warde Packing Co., located at Point Warde, 
and the G. W. Hume Packing Co. (formerly the Herbert Hume 
Packing Co.), at Nakat Inlet, which were not operated in 1913, were 
reopened in 1914. The cannery of the Swift-Arthur-Crosby Co. was 
also reopened. The Walsh-Moore Canning Co. changed its name to 
the Ward Cove Packing Co., while the Sanborn-Cutting Co. took over 
the cannery operated by the Kake Packing Co. The canneries of the 
Admiralty Trading Co. and the Skowl Arm Packing Co. were closed in 
1914. The plant of the Kuiu Island Packing Co. burned down in the 
fall. 

In 1915 the Admiralty Trading Co. did not operate. Late in the 
summer it was sold to the Hoonah Packing Co., which company 
operated it in 1916 and succeeding years. The new canneries in 
1915 were the Doyhof Fish Products Co., at Doyhof, on Wrangell 
Narrows, and Edward Verney & Son (a hand plant), at Metlakahtla. 
The name of the Irving Packing Co. was changed to the Karheen 
Packing Co. The Straits Packing Co. purchased the Skowl Arm 
cannery of the Skowl Arm Packing Co. and operated it. 

In 1916 the following new canneries were constructed and put into 
operation: Auk Bay Salmon Canning Co., Auk Bay; Beegle Packing 
Co., Northland Packing Co., and J. L. Smiley & Co., all at Ketchikan; 
Sanitary Packing Co., George Arm; Seattle Packing Co., floating 
plant in Idaho Inlet; Tenakee Fisheries Co., Tenakee; and Union 
Bay Fisheries Co., Union Bay. 

The George W. Hume Co. 's plant at Nakat Inlet, formerly operated 
by the Herbert Hume Packing Co., burned down shortly alter the 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. • 47 

season's operations had begun. It was rebuilt in time to operate in 
1917. 

Late in 1916 the Lindenberger Packing Co. sold its Roe Point 
plant to the Northwestern Fisheries Co. and its Craig plant to the 
Columbia Salmon Co. About the same time the Seattle racking Co. 
disposed of its floating cannery Amelia to the Northland Fish Co., 
which operated it at Metlakahtla in 1917. The Sanitary Packing 
Co. changed to the Ketchikan Packing Co., while the Sunny Point 
Packing Co. took over all the interests of the Northland Packing Co., 
and in 1917 operated the cannery also located at Ketchikan. 

In 1917 the heavy demand throughout the world for foodstuffs 
caused a considerable increase in the number of new canneries in 
Alaska. In the southeast Alaska section, nine were built and 
operated as follows: Alaska Herring & Sardine Co., Port Walter; 
Alaska Pacific Herring Co., Big Port Walter; Baranof Packing Co., 
Red Bluff Bay; R. L. Cole 6i: Co., Tokeen; Haines Packing Co., 
Letinkof Cove; Lane & Williams, Moira Sound; Northland Fish Co. 
(floating plant Amelia), Metlakahtla; Sitka Packing Co., Sitka; 
and Robert Scott, a floating caimery at Craig. The two first named 
were built in 1916 but were not then engaged in canning salmon. 

On September 13, 1917, the cannery of the Sunny Point Packing 
Co., at Sunny Point, was totally destroyed bj^ fire, while on October 2 
the same fate befell the cannery of the Astoria & Puget Sound 
Canning Co. at Excursion Inlet. Wilson Fisheries Co., of Chicago, 
took over the J. L. Smiley & Co. plant at Ketchikan. 

In 1918 the following new canneries were put into operation: 
Alaska Clam Canning Co., Petersburg; Alaska Packing & Navigation 
Co., Pavlof Harbor; Columbia Salmon Co., Tenakee Inlet; Hidden 
Inlet Canning Co., Hood Ba}'; Hunter & Dickinson, Washington 
Bay; T. E. P. Keegan, Douglas; J. H. Long Packing Co. and North- 
ern Packing Co., fluneau; Noyes Island Packing Co., Noyes Island; 
Pybus Bay Fish & Packing Co., Pybus Bay; Pyramid Packing Co. 
and Sitka Packing Co., Sitka; Southern Alaska Canning Co., Quadra; 
Todd Packing Co., Peril Strait; and H. Van Vlack & Co., Petersburg. 

The name of the Sanborn-Cram Co. was changed to Burnett Inlet 
Packing Co. The Deep Sea Salmon Co. established a new plant at 
Port Althorp and used part of the equipment of its former Knik Arm 
cannery in equipping it. G. W. Hume Co. purchased the Doyhof 
Packing Co. cannery at Scow Bay. The Marathon Fishing and Pack- 
ing Co. operated the barge Amelia at Petersburg. The Southern 
Alaska Canning Co. took over the Rose Inlet plant of the Wiese 
Packing Co. 

The tollowing new plants were constructed and operated in 1919: 
Alaska Salmon & Herring Co., Tyee; Alaska Sanitary Packing Co., 
an additional plant at Cape Fanshaw; Beauclaire Packing Co., Port 
Beauclaire; Cape Fanshaw Fishing & Packing Co., Cape Fanshaw; 
J. L. Carlson & Co., Auk Harbor; Douglas Island Packing Co., 
Douglas; Hood Bay Packing Co., Hood Bay; Olympic Fisheries Co., 
floating barge at Ketchikan, etc.; Petersburg Packing Corporation, 
Washington Bay. 

The Southern Alaska Canning Co. took over the Alaska Pacific 
Herring Co., while the Alaska Clam Canning Co. changed its name to 
the Mountain Point Packing Co. The American Packing Co. took 
over the J. H. Long Packing Co. 



48 • U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

In 1919 the Northwestern Fisheries Co. did not operate its Santa 
Ana, Hunter Bay, and Roe Point canneries, while the Anacortes 
Fisheries Co. shut down its Shakan cannery. Other canneries which 
did not operate were the following: Craig cannery, of Columbia 
.Salmon Co.; T, E. P. Keegan, Douglas. 

At one time salteries were of considerable importance in this sec- 
tion, but the establishment of canneries, with the consequent heavy 
demand for fresh salmon, induced most of the salteries to sell their 
high-grade fish to the canneries and pack only the cheaper grades. 
Many of them quit the business as a result of the competition, while 
others were forced out by the low prices prevailing at times for salted 
salmon. As many of the salters moved from place to place, and fre- 
quently changed their operating name, it has been difficult to keep 
track of them, and in this review only those are listed who attained to 
some prominence either through longevity or largeness of pack. 

James Millar, one of the earliest whites to take up his residence here 
after the purchase of Alaska, and his sons were very active in starting 
and operating salteries, and it was an unusual thing during the period 
previous to 1910 when one of the family was not operating such a 
plant. 

Jacob liouth established a saltery on the south arm of Moira Sound 
about 1900 and operated it for some years. 

John C. Frey established a saltery on Etoline Island in the nineties 
and ran it until his death in 1904, when John H. Mantle purchased 
and operated it until about 1910. 

Anderson & King built a saltery on Cholmondeley Sound, Prince of 
Wales Island, in the nineties. In 1904 it was operated under the 
name of A. E. King. After Mr. King's death his widow operated it 
from 1906 to 1909. In 1910 the saltery was purchased by C. A. 
Burckhardt & Co., who built a cannery on the site and began opera- 
tions in 1911. In 1912 the name was changed to the Alaska Pacific 
Fisheries. 

The Alaska Fish & Development Co. built a saltery on Pleasant 
Bay, Admiralty Island, in 1903, and operated it from 1903 to 1905. 
In 1907 it was operated by the Alaska-American Fish Co., but has 
been closed since. 

Yakutat Bay is the only harbor available for vessels from Cape 
Spencer to Prince WiUiam Sound. In 1902 C. A. Fredericks & Co., of 
Seattle; Mulvey & Wilson, of Yakutat; eJewell Fish Co.; and Ankow 
Fish Co. all established salteries here. While their primary purpose 
was the salting of herring, considerable salmon was also salted. 
These plants operated only the one season. 

In 1904 the Yakutat & Southern Railway Co. built a cannery here. 
This plant is noted for being the only one that hauls its fish by railway 
from the fishing streams to the cannery. The railroad is a little over 
9 miles in length, and for some years an engine which had seen service 
on the elevated railroads of New York City and was discarded when 
the latter were electrified was used. A more modern engine is now in 
use. The fish are carried in open freight cars. Later this company 
was purchased by Gorman & Co., and now is the property of Libby, 
McNeill & Libbey, although operated under the original name. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 49 

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND COPPER RIVER. 

The great indentation known as Prince William Sound, and the 
Copper River delta, a short distance south of the sound, were not 
exploited as much as many other portions of Alaska until about 1915, 
due largely to the limited means oi transportation and the consequent 
heavy expense of operation. 

The prmcipal source of salmon supply is the Copper River, a glacial 
stream about 300 miles long, which empties into the Gulf of Alaska 
through a delta nearly 40 miles in width and extending upstream 
about 25 miles. 

0^^^ng to the constantly shifting shoals in the delta, special knowl- 
edge is needed in navigating them, while special flat-bottomed vessels 
are required as run boats. The gill net and dip net are the only 
important apparatus in use in the river. In Prince William Sound 
traps and purse seines catch most of the salmon. 

In 1889 a company known as the Central Alaska Co. built a can- 
nery on Wingham, or Little Kayak Island, about 15 miles west from 
Cape Suckling. It made a pack that year, and the following spring 
was moved to Thin Point, on the southern side of the Alaska Penin- 
sula. 

The Peninsula Trading & Fishing Co. built a cannery on the same 
island in 1889. In 1891 it was moved to one of the sloughs of the 
Copper River delta, known as Coquenhena, and operated in 1891. It 
was closed in 1892 and 1893. The Pacific Steam Whaling Co. oper- 
ated it until 1897, when it was abandoned. 

In 1916 the Hoonah Packing Co. built and operated a cannery on 
Bering River. 

Louis Sloss & Co., of San Francisco, built a cannery under the title 
of Pacific Packing Co. in 1889 at the extreme eastern end of the 
sound, close by the present site of Cordova, and called it Odiak. The 
cannerj^ was closed in 1892. In 1893 it joined the Alaska Packers 
Association and was operated each season until 1905. In 1906 the 
buildings and site were sold to the Copper River & Northwestern 
Railroad Co., which was preparing to build a railroad from Odiak to 
the headwaters of the Copper River. 

In 1889 the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. built a cannery close by 
the Odiak plant, but in the spring of 1895 it was moved to the spot 
now known as Orca, about 3 miles north of Cordova. It was closed 
in 1892, and has been operated ever since except in 1919 and 1920. 
In 1901 it was taken into the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. com- 
bination. When the latter's assets were sold in 1904, this cannery 
was not ijicluded in the sale, as at the time the plant was under lease 
to Capt. Omar J. Humphrey. In 1 905 it was sold to the Northwestern 
Fisheries Co., which had purchased most of the Alaska plants of the 
defunct company, and they have operated it since. 

In 1915 the Copper River Packing Co. built a cannery on the Cop- 
per River at Mile 55, and made a pack the same year. The cannery 
uses no run boats, but has an arrangement mth the Copper River & 
Northwestern Railroad Co. to haul the fish from the fishing stations 
to the cannery, and bring the finished product to Cordova for ship- 
ment by steamer. In 1918 the name was changed to the Abercrom- 
bie Packing Co. 

11312°— 21 4 



50 U- S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

The Canoe Pass Packing Co., which had built a cannery at Canoe 
Pass, southeast Ah^ska, in 1912, and had not operated it subse 
quently, in 1915 moved the machinery to Cordova and installed it in 
a rented building and made a pack. It built its own cannery afe 
Shepard Point, near Cordova, in 1917. _ I 

In 1916 the Carlisle Packing Co. built a cannery at Cordova, while;' 
the Clark-Graham Co. built one at Eyak, a few miles away. 1 

In 1917 the following new canneries were operated: Valdez Pack-i 
ing Co., Valdez; Copper River Packing Co., Port Nellie Juan; Light4| 
house Canning Co. and Moore Packing Co., Cordova; and San JuaiMl 
Fishing & Packing Co., Seward. The latter plant was also equippedii 
for freezing salmon and other fishes. The Lighthouse Canning Co. h 
was canning clams in 1916, the first year of its operation. The Alaska j 
Sea Food Co. took over the Turner cannery, which had been built inj j 
1916 and used in packing clams. The plant was destroyed by fire on ■ 
April 4, but was rebuilt the same year, although not operated with 
salmon until 1918. 

A number of salmon salteries were started in Prince William Sound ! 
after 1915. Charles Matthews in 1916 operated a salmon saltery at 
Seward; The Kenai Fishing & Trading Co. in 1916 acquired the J. 
Bettles saltery on Eshamy Bay. In 191 8 the company expanded into 
a canning plant. A. C. Hoodenpyle operated a saltery at Port Wells 
in 1918. 

In 1919 the following new canneries were started: Franklin Pack- 
ing Co., Port Ashton; and Pioneer Packing Co., Cordova (this plant 
had been operating on clams for a couple of seasons). The Eyak 
River Packing Co. took over the Clark-Graham Co., while the Hillery- 
Scott Co. succeeded the Lighthouse Canning Co. 

COOK INLET. I 

While this great inlet has an abundant supply of salmon, it is one' 
of the most difficult sections in aU Alaska in which to fish successfully. 
The tides and currents in the inlet are strong and treacherous, increas- 
ing in height and force as its head is approached, where the tide 
comes in with a bore which is extremely dangerous to small craft. | 
Shoals make out a long distance from shore and are continually' 
changing. ... I 

The first cannery to be built on the inlet was in 1882, when the; 
Alaska Packing Co., of San Francisco, built one at Kasilof, on the right! 
bank ol the Kasilof River at the mouth, utilizing the available machin- . 
ery from the cannery built by the Cutting Packing Co. at old Sitka; 
in 1878. In 1885 this cannery was sold to the Arctic Fishing Co. . 
In 1890 the loss of its cannery ship forced it to close that season. ! 
In 1893 it joined the Alaska Packers Association. At the height of i 
the season of 1905 the plant was burned. It was rebuilt the next j 
spring and has been operated each year since. 

The cannery of the Northern Packing Co. was built in 1888 on the 
eastern side of Cook Inlet, at Kenai, at the mouth of the Kaknu 
River. It was operated up to and including 1891. In 1893 it joined 
the Alaska Packers Association, but has not been operated since 1 891 . 

In 1897 the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. built a cannery at Kenai, 
but did not install the machinery and operate it until the next year. 
In 1901 this cannery was taken over by the Pacific Packing & Navi- 
gation Co. In 1903 the plant burned down. Upon the sale of it 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 51 

assets in 1905 the site passed to the Northwestern Fisheries Co. In 
1910 the company put up a new plant here and has operated it con- 
tinuously since. During the period when the site was unused a mild- 
curing establishment was operated here by the San Juan Fishing & 
Packing Co. in 1907 and 1908. This plant burned down just before 
the fishing season of 1916 began, but was rebuilt in time to operate 
in 1917. 

In 1890 George W. Hume, ot San Francisco, built a cannery at 
Kasilof, on the right bank of the river, about half a mile above its 
mouth. It was operated in 1890, 1891, and 1892. In 1893 it joined 
the Alaska Packei-s Association and was consolidated with the plant 
of the Arctic Fishing Co. 

C. D. Ladd operated a saltery- on the left bank and at the mouth of 
the Chulitna River, about 6 miles above Tyonek. This saltery was 
piu-chased by the Alaska Salmon Association in 1899. The follow- 
ing spring it erected a cannery here and made a small pack. It was 
operated also in 1901 and 1902, and then abandoned. 

In 1907 J. A. Herbert & Co. established a saltery at English Bay 
and operated it until 1910. 

In 1911 the Seldovia Salmon Co. built a cannery at Seldovia and 
operated it until late in 1915, when the company went into the hands 
of a receiver. In 1916 it was reopened by the Columbia Salmon Co. 
In 1917 it was bought by the Northwestern Fisheries Co. and oper- 
ated in this and the succeeding year, but was closed in 1919. 

In 1912 the Fidalgo Island Packing Co., which already operated a 
cannery at Ketchikan, in southeast Alaska, built a cannery at Port 
Graham, at the lower end of the Kenai Peninsula. A pack was made 
that year and each year since. 

The same year Libby, McNeill & Libby built a cannery at Kenai 
and operated that year and each subsequent year. 

In 1915 the Deep Sea Salmon Co., which operates a cannery in 
southeast Alaska, built a plant near Knik, on the west side of Cook 
Inlet, and made a small pack. This plant was abandoned at the end 
of 1917 and part of the equipment sold to a new plant in southeast 
Alaska. 

Of recent years considerable salting of salmon has been carried on 
in Cook Inlet. In 1916 Dr. Knut A. Kyvig, of Anchorage, did some 
salting at Swanson Creek, Turnagin Arm, under the name of the 
;Kyvig Packing Co. In 1917 the Beluga Whaling Co. salted salmon at 
Beluga. In 1918 Dr. Kyvig disposed of his interest in the Kachemak 
Bay plant to the Kachemak Canning Co. 

AFOGNAK ISLAND. 

Afognak Island lies to the northwest of Kodiak, and it is separated 
[from it by a narrow strait. 

I In 1889 the Royal Packing Co. built a cannery at the head of 
Afognak Bay and operated it in 1889 and 1890. It became a mem- 
iber of the Alaska Packers Association in 1893. It has not been 
operated since 1892. 

The Russian-American Packing Co. in 1889 built a cannery imme- 
diately above that of the Royal. It was operated in 1889 and 1890. 
;In 1893 it became a member of the Alaska Packers Association. It 
jhas not been operated since 1890. 



52 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

In accordance with an act of Congress approved March 3, 1891, the 
President, by proclamation of December 24, 1892, set aside the whole 
island and within 1 mile from the shores thereof as a fish-cultural 
reserve for the use of the United States Commission of Fish and Fish- 
eries. As a result of this action both canneries were forced to move 
from the island entirely. 

KODIAK ISLAND. 

This island has been the scene of some of the best fishing in Alaska. 
The Russians early settled here, one of the most fertile spots in the 
usually sterile soil of Alaska, and undoubtedly they must have 
prosecuted the fisheries from an early date, although but little data 
are extant showing their operations in this line. 

Karluk River and Lagoon. — One of the greatest salmon streams ini 
the world is the Karluk River, and although its importance is much! 
diminished now through long continued and heavy fishing, it still! 
produces annually a large pack of canned-salmon, and has the dis- 
tinction of having produced more salmon than any other river ini 
Alaska. I 

It will doubtless surprise most readers to hear that the rivefr 
which has yielded so many countless thousands of salmon is only 
16 2 miles in length. It has its source in two lakes, the larger off; 
which is about 8, the smaller, 3 miles long. The mouth of the rivern 
is about 2 miles above the canneries, and spreads out here into a 
lagoon. This lagoon has at the head a width of about 300 yards, and : 
gradually widens until it is nearly half a mile across as it approaches 
the spit. The lagoon has a general east and west direction, is about , 
2 miles in length, and, except for the shingle spit which is thrown i 
across its mouth by the action of the sea, its shores are bluff, rising 
from about 50 to 100 feet. The spit is three-fourths of a mile long 
with an average width of about 200 feet. The outlet of the lagoon 
is only 90 feet wide at its mouth. The western side of the mouth of ' 
the lagoon is Karluk Head, a precipitous mountain mass about 1,600 
feet high. 

The outer side of the spit is where the fishing is carried on. Haul 
seines are used exclusively. As bowlders used to be common here 
it was necessary to remove a number of them in the early days when 
a seine shore was to be prepared. The red salmon run here is an 
exceptionally long one, the season extending from about the middle 
of June to about the middle of September. The other species of 
salmon also run here; sometimes humpbacks appear in large numbers. 
As the beach is open to Shelikof Strait, in which storms are frequent, 
seining is often interrupted. 

As early as 1867 the s.alting of salmon was carried on at Karluk. 
In 1870 the Alaska Fur Trading Co. and the Alaska Commercial 
Co. began to salt salmon and continued this on a gradually expanding^ 
scale. 

In 1882 Smith & Hirsch, who had been engaged in salting ont 
Karluk Spit, built the fu'st cannery on Kodiak Island. After opera- 
ting it until 1884 it was organized under the title of the Karluk. 
Packing Co., and packed under that name every year until 1911, 
when canning operations were transferred to the new cannery in 
Larsen Bay. In 1893 it joined the Alaska Packers Association. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 53 

The Kodiak Packing Co. in 1888 built a cannery on the eastern 
side of the spit and operated it in 1888, 1889, 1890, 1891, and 1893. 
It joined the Alaska rackers Association in 1893, but has not been 
operated since that season. 

The Hume Packing Co. built a cannery on the spit about 400 yards 
westward of Kodiak cannery in 1889. In 1892 it was consolidated 
with the Aleutian Islands Fishing & Mining Co., which had built a 
cannery about 100 yards westward of the Hume cannery in 1888. 
In 1898 the consolidation became a member of the Alaska Packers 
Association. This plant was not operated in 1900. 

In 1888 the Alaska Improvement Co. built a cannery on the left 
bank of the outlet, opposite the point of the spit and facing the 
Shelikof Strait. It was ready to pack in 1888, but was not operated 
on account of the loss of its cannery ship, the Julin Ford. In the 
spring of 1897 it was sold to the Alaska Packers Association and has 
since been operated by that company. 

In 1893 the Hume Canning & Trading Co. built a cannery on the 
beach under Karluk Head, about three-fourths of a mile northward 
of the Alaska Improvement Co., in what is known locally as Tangle- 
foot Bay. It was operated in 1893 and 1894, and in 1895 it was sold 
to the Alaska Packers Association and operated by that company. 
It has been closed since. 

The great increase in the number of canneries in Alaska in 1888 
and 1889 caused such an enlargement of the pack that the markets 
became glutted, and it was soon apparent that steps would have to 
be taken to reduce the output if the operators were to avoid bank- 
ruptcy. 

Capt. Moser in ''Salmon and Salmon Fisheries of Alaska "« thus 
describes the attempts of the canners to find a working solution of 
this important problem and the final result of their endeavors: 

In 1890 the three canneries at Chignik combined under an operating agreement 
known as the Chignik Bay Combination, under which the plant of the Chignik Bay Co. 
was operated, the three canneries sharing the expense and dividing the output equally. 
This arrangement remained in force during the seasons of 1890 and 1891. Its evident 
success in 1890 probably led to the local combinations on Kodiak Island in 1891, and 
then to the association which now exists. 

The large packs during this period and the glutted market caused the cannery inter- 
ests to devise some scheme to meet the conditions. The combination at Chignik in 
1890 permitted the pack to be made there at a lower rate and, as previously stated, 
it was continued in 1891. The same year (1891) the canneries at Karluk, Uyak, and 
Afognak entered a combination, under the name of the Karluk River Fisheries, under 
which it was agreed that each cannery should have a quota of fish from the several 
localities, based upon the average packs of each cannery in 1889 and 1890. The 
estimated pack for the canneries interested was placed at 250,000 cases, and upon this 
estimate the apportionment of the work at each cannery was made. Under this 
agreement four of the eight canneries were closed, their quota being packed in the other 
four canneries as follows, viz, that of the Royal at the Karluk, of the Arctic at the 
Kodiak, of the Aleutian Islands at the Hume, and of the Russian-American at the 
Alaska Improvement. 

In the summer of 1891 the Kodiak Packing Co. and the Arctic Packing Co., both 
at Alitak Bay, also had a mutual agreement under which only one cannery, the Arctic, 
was operated, the quota of fish of the Kodiak being packed in the Arctic cannery. 
By these combinations the full pack of the Karluk district was made in half the number 
of canneries and the expense of packing very considerably reduced. 

In September, 1891, the Alaska Packers Association was formed to dispose of the 
unsold salmon of that season's pack (some 363,000 cases) and 'five trustees were ap- 

( aThe Salmon and Salmon Fisheriesof Alaska. Report of the Operations of theU.S. Fish Commission 
f Steamer Albatrosg for the Year ended June 30, 1898. By Jefferson F. Moser. Bulletin, U. S. Fish Com- 
I mission, 1898 Vol. XVUI, pp. 18-21. Wa«hington, 1899. 



54 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

pointed to mana9;e the business. This association was not incorporated and expired 
after the salmon were sold. 

The successful operation of these arrangements led, in 1892, to an arrangement in 
which nearly all (31) of the canneries joined, entering under the name of the Alaska 
Packing (not Packers) Association, for the purpose of leasing and operating and 
therefore controlling the canneries and reducing the Alaska pack for that year, it 
being found too great for the market's demands. All the canneries in operating 
condition in 1892 were members of this association except the following: Metlakahtla 
Industrial Co., at Metlakahtla; Boston Fishing & Trading Co., at Yes Bay; Baranoff 
Packing Co., at Redfish Bay; Chilkat Canning Co., at Pyramid Harbor; Alaska 
Improvement Co., at Karluk; and the Bering Sea Packing Co., at Ugashik. 

The association was regularly incorporated on January 13, 1892, and shares were 
distributed on the basis of 1 for each 2,000 cases packed in 1891, and the profits were 
divided equally on all shares, regardless of the amount of profits derived at the differ- 
ent points. Of the 31 canneries, 9 were operated by the association, while the others 
were closed, the Alaska pack being reduced one-half. 

The year 1893 found the Alaska Packers Association organized and incorporated 
February 9. This association was formed from the canneries that had joined the 
Alaska Packing Association of 1892, except the Pacific Steam Whaling Co., at Prince 
William Soimd, and the Peninsula Trading & Fishing Co., the latter's cannery 
having been moved from Little Kayak Island to the Copper River delta in 1891. 

The agreement of 1893 was similar to that of 1892, except that the amount of profit 
was taken into consideration in addition to the probable average quantity which 
could be packed at the different points. This was subject to adjustment for each 
district, and no arlaitrary rule was followed. Each cannery entering the association 
was obliged to purchase an additional amount of stock, equaling two-thirds of the 
number of shares received by it for its plant; that is, a company which received 1,500 
shares for its plant was required to purchase 1,000 shares additional. The money 
received from this sale of extra stock was used as working capital. No shares were 
sold to the general public, the owners of canneries subscribing for the full amount. 

This association was then and is now (1920) the largest operator 
in Alaska, and, with its three canneries on Puget Sound, is also a 
factor in that region. 

At a number of its canneries the association has always main- 
tained physicians, whose services and supplies have been free to its 
own employees and to all natives applymg for medical advice and 
medicines. This service has been of incalculable benefit to the latter, 
a large proportion of whom suffer from disease in some form or other. 

No canning has been done at Karluk since 1911, when a new can- 
nery was built at Larsen Bay, a branch of Uyak Bay, and the equip- 
ment remaining in the plants on the spit removed to it. This was 
done because frequent storms had caused havoc to vessels anchored 
in the open straits opposite the mouth of the lagoon. Since then 
fishing has been carried on as usual, the fish being carried to the 
canneries on Uyak Bay. The Alaska Packers Association and 
Northwestern Fisheries Co., the only operators now, have an agree- 
ment to divide the fish on the basis of seven to the former for every 
three given to the latter. 

Alitak Bay. — Alitak Bay, or the ''South End," as it is termed 
locally, is a deep indentation, with several arms, on the south- 
western end of Kodiak Island, about 65 miles from Karluk. The 
seine is the principal apparatus used here. 

In 1889 the Arctic Packing Co. built a cannery in the southwest 
bight of Olga Bay, which is a branch of Mitak Bay and is connected 
with it by a long, narrow passage. In 1893 it entered the Alaska 
Packers Association. 

In 1889 the Kodiak Packing Co. built a cannery at Snug Harbor, 
a cove in the passage connecting Olga Bay with Alitak Bay, and op- 
erated it in 1889 and 1890. Its quota of fish was packed by the 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 55 

Arctic Packing Co. in 1891. In 1893 it joined the Alaska Packers 
Association and the same year was dismantled. 

In 1918 the Alitak Packing Co. built a cannery on Alitak Bay. 

Vyalc Bay.—Vjstk Bay is on the northwestern side about the 
middle of Kodiak Island and is a considerable body of water with 
ramifying arms. On the western shore, near the entrance and about 
18 miles from Karluk, is Uyak xinchorage. The harbor is formed by 
the main shore of the island and Bear and Harvester Islands, and is 
'requently used as un anchorage by canner}^ 3hips and the steamers 
"rom Karluk during bad weather. As there are no red salmon 
jtreams in Uyak, fishing is carried on elsewhere. Most of it is at 
Karluk Spit. 

In the spring of 1897 the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. and Hume 
Bros. & Hume built canneries on the main shores at Uyak Anchorage, 
[n 1901 both plants became a part of the Pacific Packing & Naviga- 
;ion Co. and were operated by it. In 1905 the Uyak plants were 
purchased by the Northwestern Fisheries Co., and the same year one 
)f the plants was destroyed by fire and was not rebuilt. The remain- 
ng plant has been operated each year since. 

Five miles southeast from Uyak Anchorage is a narrow arm called 
Larsen Bay. It is 4 miles long. Immediately within the entrance 
)n the northern shore is the site of the cannery of the Arctic Pack- 
ng Co., which was built in 1888, and operated in that year and 1889 
md 1890, since which date it has been closed. In 1893 it became a 
r)art of the Alaska Packers Association and in 1896 it was dismantled. 

As the association had lost several ships while loading at Karluk, 
t finally decided to move its plants from that place, and in 1911 a 
?annery was built at the old site on Larsen Bay, and from that time 
jll cannery operations formerly carried on at Karluk have been per- 
lormed at this plant. 

IJganuk Bay. — This bay is next to the eastward of Uyak. For 
leveral years a saltery was operated here by Oliver Smith, who sold 
t to the Alaska Packers Association in 1896. The same year the 
atter built a cannery on the bay. It made a pack in 1896 and a 
partial pack in 1897. This cannery was abandoned in 1900. 
I Koi/iaJc. — Salting operations have been carried on at this old 
ilussian settlement for a number of years. 

In order to furnish work for the natives, the Alaska Commercial 
o. and Blodgett & Blinn salted the catches made by them in 1906 
md subsequent years until 1912, when the Kodiak Fisheries built a 
tannery and has operated it each year since. 

The Woman's American Baptist Home Missionary Society had 
arried on a home and school tor native children on Wood Island, 
lose to Kodiak, for some years. In 1902 the society established a 
almon saltery here in order to furnish employment for the natives, 
^o data are recorded in the official reports of further activities on 
he part of this plant. 

CHIGNIK BAY. 

Chignik Bay is on the southern side of the Alaska Peninsuhi and 
3 the first important indentation after leaving Cook Inlet on the way 
o the westward. The bay is about 150 miles southwest of Kurluk. 
)n the westward side of the bay is a small deep bay known as Anchor- 
ge Bay. Several of the canneries are located here, and the trans- 



56 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

porting vessels of all the canneries make their anchorage at this 
point. In the extreme southwest corner of Chignik Bay is the 
entrance to Chignik Lagoon. At the head of this lagoon, from 
which all the canneries draw their supplies of red salmon, is the 
mouth of the stream up which go the schools. 

Chignik River is about 6 miles long, with an average width of 100 
yards, and its depth is such that a boat can ascend only at high 
water. It has its rise in two lakes, each about 10 miles long 

Red salmon predominate in the runs, although all five species are 
to be found. A run of very small red salmon, weighing about 2 
pounds, and known as Arctic salmon, appears here every year. 

Practically all of the fishing here is with traps, although gill nets 
and seines have also been used at times. 

This bay, next to Karluk Spit, has been the scene of more bitter 
fights for supremacy in canning than any other place in Alaska. 

In 1888 the Fishermen's Packing Co., of Astoria, Oreg., sent a party 
to Chignik Bay to prospect for fish, and they returned in the fall with 
2,160 barrels of salt salmon. 

The next year, this company, operating imder the name of the 
Chignik Bay Co., built a cannery on the eastern shore of the Lagoon, 
2^ miles from the entrance. 

The same year the Shumagin Packing Co., composed of capitalists 
from Portland, Oreg., and the Chignik Bay Packing Co., of San 
Francisco, built and operated canneries close to that of the Chignik 
Bay Co. All three oi these companies soon arrived at a working 
agreement and fuially combined into one organization. All were 
operated in 1889, 1890, and 1891. In 1892 they all joined the pool 
01 the Alaska Packing Association, and the cannery of the Chignik 
Bay Co. alone operated. In 1893 they all became members of the 
Alaska Packers Association. 

Since 1891 only the cannery of the Chignik Bay Co. has been oper- 
ated. The Shumagin building has been moved alongside the former 
and the machinery consolidated, so as to form practically one large 
cannery. 

In the spring of 1896 Hume Bros. & Hume built a cannery on the 
eastern side of Anchorage Bay and made a pack that year and m 
1897. 

The same spring the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. built a cannery 
one-fourth of a mile south of the Hume cannery, and made a pack 
that year and in 1897. In 1901 this plant, also that of Hume Bros. 
& Hume, became part of the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. The 
failure of this company in 1904 threw its properties onto the market 
and most of them, including the two Chignik canneries, were pm- 
chased by the Northwestern Fisheries Co., which in 1905 shut down 
the Hume Bros. & Hume. plant for good and has operated the other 
plant ever since. 

In 1910 the Columbia River Packers Association built and operated 
a cannery on Anchorage Bay, and has operated it everv year since. 

The three companies operating here have an amicable agreement 
under which they each operate the same number of traps and divide 
equally the salmon caught. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 57 

ALASKA PENINSULA, SOUTH SIDE. 

Ozemoy. — In 1889 a cannery, under the title of the Western 
Alaska Packing Co., was built at Ozernoy, on the western side of 
Stepovak Bay, south side of the Alaska Peninsula. It packed that 
year and in 1890, but the fish were so scarce that the cannery was 
dismantled in 1891 and the site abandoned. 

Nothing was done with it for some years, but about 1905 Bostrop 
Omundsen. located there and established a saltery. In the winter of 
1912-13 August Lindquist purchased a half mterest in the plant and 
it was operated under theu* joint names mitil the death oi the sen- 
ior partner in the fall of 1915; since then it has been operated by 
Lindquist alone. 

Thin Point. — Thin Point is on the southern side of the Alaska 
Penhisula, near its extreme western end. A saltery was operated 
here for several years, until the Thin Point Packing Co. was organized 
by Louis Sloss & Co., of San Francisco, and the cannery was built 
in 1889. It was operated m 1889, 1890, and 1891, and was closed 
after that date. In 1890 the cannery ship Oneida, en route for this 
place, struck on the Sannaks in April and nearly all of the 77 Chinese 
on board were lost. In 1893 the plant became a member of the 
Alaska Packers Association. In 1894 the cannery was moved to 
the Naknek River, m Bering Sea, and became a part of the cannery 
of the Arctic Packing Co. 

The Alaska Packers Association operated a saltery at Thin Point 
in 1894, 1895, and 1896, and then al)andoned the place. 

The cannery of the Central Alaska Co. was moved in 1890 from 
Little Kayak Island, near Katalla, to Thin Point. It operated 
durhig 1890 and 1891, was closed in 1892, and in 1893 jouied the 
Alaska Packers Association, but was no longer operated. In 1895 
the available machmery was moved to Koggiung, on the Kvichak 
River, in Bering Sea. 

In 1908 Osmund & Andersen established a saltery at Thin Point 
and operated it in 1908, 1909, and 1910. 

In 1911 the Pacific American Fisheries built a cannery at King 
Cove, on the south side of the Alaska Peninsula, a few miles cast of 
Thin Point, and in the fall purchased the saltery. The cannery was 
operated in 1911 and each year smce. 

In 1917 the Pacific American Fisheries built and operated a new 
cannery at Ikatan, on Isanotski Strait, at the eastern end of Unimak 
Island. The Sockeye Salmon Co. built and operated in the same 
year a new cannery on Morzhovia Bay, a few miles from the strait, 
and on the Alaska Penmsula. In 1920 the latter was moved to the 
Unimak Island side of the strait. 

SHUMAGIN AND SANNAK ISLANDS. 

Small salteries have been operated at different places on the vShu- 
magin and Sannak groups. The plants have usually been rude and 
primitive affairs and were operated whenever the price of salted 
salmon was high enough to justif}^ same. As the ownership, and the 
location in many instances changed frequently, no attempt has been 
made even to fist them. 

In 1920 the Shumagin Packing Co. installed the necessary machin- 
ery in its saltery and put up a pack of canned salmon. 



58 tJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

BERING SEA. 

Bristol Bay. — The great redfish producino: section of the world is 
in the Bristol Bay portion of Bering Sea. This bay lies in the eastern 
section of Bering Sea, inside of a line drawn from Port Moller to Cape 
Newenham, and a number of important rivers debouch into it, in all 
of which the annual runs of salmon, especially reds, are important. 

Bristol Bay is considerably off the line of steamship travel, and as 
a result the companies operating here are compelled to have ships in 
which to bring up their employees and supplies in the spring and to 
take back the men and prepared products in the late summer or 
early fall when the season has ended. 

Cannery ships belonging to the Nushagak plants are taken into the 
bay and anchored as near the canneries as possible. Owing to shoals 
this can not be done on Kvichak Bay and the Naknek and Ugaguk 
Rivers. In the early days of the fisheries the ships running to the 
latter canneries were brought as close to the plants as possible, un- 
loaded by means of scows, and then taken to the Nushagak for shelter. 
When their numbers were too great to permit of this they were 
moored in the open about 5 miles off the point separating Kvichak 
Bay and Naknek River, where the anchorage is good and the vessels 
have very little trouble in riding out storms. Usually the captain 
and a boy are left aboard the ship. 

NUSHAGAK RIVER AND BAY. 

The Nushagak River, sometimes called the Tahlekuk, with its 
tributaries, and the Wood River, which enters the head of Nushagak . 
Bay close by the mouth of the Nushagak, form a favorite resort of 
the red salmon, while all other species also ascend them. 

But little is known of the upper courses of the Nushagak River, 
except that they drain the region between Lakes Clark and Iliamna 
on the east and the Kuskokwim on the west. 

The river is said to be 200 miles long to the first lake, a large one. 
Beyond this lake there are three other smaller lakes, all connected 
by short stretches of river. The largest tributary of the river is the 
Malchatna, which enters it about 100 miles from the mouth. There 
are also several small tributaries, two of these being Tikchik River 
and Portage Creek. There are three or four Indian villages on the 
Nushagak, Kaknak being the largest. A launch drawing 3 to 3i feet 
of water can navigate about 120 miles from the mouth. It is neces- 
sary to use a "bidarka" to go into the upper reaches. There are four 
rapids, around which a portage must be made in each case. 

The river on its lower course is large, and flows a great quantity of 
water into the head of Nushagak Bay. 

Wood River is about 24 miles long from its mouth to the first lake. 
Shoals and bars are frequent in the river, the depth on these at low 
water being 2\ feet and at high water 4 feet. 

Aleknagik Lake, the first of the chain of three, is about 24 miles 
long, and has an average width of about 2 miles. 

Wood River is noted especially for the interesting counting exper- 
iment the Bureau of Fisheries is carrying on here. This very im- 
portant work was first taken up in 1908, as an indirect result of the 
order closing Wood and Nushagak Rivers to the commercial fisher- 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



69 



men, as noted below, and has been continued, with the exception of 
1914, to the pr.osont time. This work is made possible by the gen- 
erosity of the Alaska Packers Association of San Francisco and the 
Alaska-Portland Packers Association of Portland, Oreg., who furnish 
the material and erect the barricade, also the labor needed throughout 
the season, while the Bureau of Fisheries furnishes the personnel 
required to carry on the direct work of counting the fish and making 
other observations. 

A rack or trap is constructed across the foot of Lake Aleknagik, at 
a constriction in the lake contour something more than 200 yards 
wide, for the purpose of intercepting all salmon entering the lake and 
passing them through gates or tunnels at such a rate and in such a 
manner that an accurate estimate of their numbers can be obtained. 
The pot of tlio trap is located near the left bank, and this has three 
gates by which the salmon can be passed from the pot into the lake 
Each gate is 2 feet in width, and its bottom rests on a wooden plat- 
form covered with white oilcloth, so that the fish can readily be seen 
as they pass over it when the gate is raised. When fish are passing 
through a gate a small wooden frame with a glass center is arranged 
so it will float on the water, and in order to hold it in position it is 
fastened to the framework of the gate. This is for the purpose of 
making the water smooth so the fish can readily be seen even though 
the surface be disturbed by ripples, etc. 

When the fish are coming rather slowly, every one is counted by 
means of a tally register as it passes out through the gates. When the 
large run comes the folloMong method is employed: An actual tally 
of every salmon passing through is made for one minute, and this is 
repeated 15 minutes later, the number passing through for 1 minute 
being regarded as the average for 15 minutes. A sheet with the whole 
day divided into quarter hours is kept ready at the gate and the 
number for one minute as taken from the tally register is immediately 
entered thereon ])y the attendant who made the tally. From these 
figures the total for the day is obtained. During only a small part 
of the season has it been found necessary to resort to this method of 
estimating the r mi. 

The following table shows for each year since 1908 the commercial 
catch of salmon made in Nushagak Bay, the number of fish passing 
from Wood River into Lake Aleknagik, the total of both and the per- 
centage of salmon that escaped the fishermen: 



Year. 


Nushagak 
Bay catch. 


Wood 
River tally. 


Total. 


Per cent 
of escape. 


1908 


6,140,031 
4,687,635 
4,384,755 
2,813,637 
3, 866, 950 
6,236,008 
6,174,097 
6,676,457 
3,592,574 
6,6/9,818 
6,078,965 
1,462,981 


2,603,655 
893,244 
670, 104 
354,299 
325,264 
753,109 
(a) 

269,341 
551,959 

1,081,508 
943,202 
145,114 


8,740,686 
5,580,879 
5,054,859 
3, 167, 936 
4,192,214 
5,989,117 


30 


1909 


16 


1910 


13 3 


1911 


11.1 


1912 


7 7 


1913 


12.5 


1914 




1915 


5,935,798 
4,144,533 
6,761,326 
7,022,167 
1,598,045 


4 3 


1916 


13 3 


1917 


15 9 


1918 


13 4 


1919 


9 







» Work not carried on this year. 



60 U- S. BUEEAU or FISHERIES. 

Snake Kiver, a tributary of Nushagak Bay, is about 30 miles in 
length, very crooked, and has its rise in a single lake close by Alekna- 
gik Lake. There is an Indian village on the river just Below the lake. 
Red salmon are abundant in this stream. 

Igushik River is about 50 miles in length and enters Nushagak Bay 
about 4 miles above Nichols Hills. So far as known it has its source 
in two lakes — -Amanka and Ualik. A short distance below the first 
lake there are rapids and a small falls. The quite large Indian village 
of Yacherk is located here, and the natives do most of their fishing m 
the rapids. Peter M. Nelson established a saltery about 10 or 12 
miles above its mouth in 1902, and operated it until he sold it to the 
Alaska Fishermen's Packing Co., who have operated it since. There 
is a small Indian village close by the saltery. 

Nushagak Bay, in which practically all the fishing is carried on, 
is about 35 miles long and from 5 to 15 miles in width. Sand bars 
and mud flats, which are visible at low water, occupy the greater 
part of its area. 

The drift gill net is the favorite apparatus in this bay, although a 
few traps are also used. The fish begin to run very early here. 
Kings usually appear about June 5, reds about June 5 to 8, cohos 
either late in June or early in July, do^ salmon about the middle of 
June, and humpbacks about the same time. The reds do not run in 
large numbers until late in June. 

Considerable fishing was carried on in both the Nushagak and 
Wood Rivers until in 1908, when, as a result of a hearing held by 
the Secretary of Commerce and Labor on December 16 and 17, 1907, 
it was decreed that beginning January 1, 1908, "it is hereby ordered 
that until further notice Wood River, a tributary of Nushagak Bay, 
in the district of Alaska, and the region within 500 yards of the 
mouth of said Wood River be closed to all commercial fishing, and 
that all commercial fishing be prohibited in Nushagak River proper." 

The earliest fishing by whites in the Bristol Bay section was for 
salting purposes by the trading companies, more particularly the 
Alaska Commercial Co., which had an important station at Fort 
Alexander on Nushagak Bay. Petroff, in the census report of 1880, 
refers to exports from this section of "from 800 to 1,200 barrels of 
salted salmon per annum from the Nushagak River." 

In 1883 the schooner Neptune visited the Nushagak on a salting 
trip. The next year the Arctic Packing Co. erected a cannery here 
and made a trial pack of 400 cases. This was the first canner}'' to 
operate in Bering Sea. It was located close to. the Moravian mission. 
This cannery eventually became a member of the Alaska Packers 
Association, and has not been operated for several years. 

The second cannery to be built was by an Astoria company, the 
Alaska Packing Co., and it was erected on the western side near the 
head of the bay and about 1^ miles below the junction of the Wood 
and Nushagak Rivers. It has been operated every year to date, 
being since 1893 a member of the Alaska Packers Association. It is 
popularly known as the "Scandinavian" cannery. 

In 1886 the Bristol Bay Canning Co. was organized by San Fran- 
cisco parties, and built a cannery on the western shore of Nushagak 
Bay in a bend about 2 miles below the cannery of the Alaska Packmg 
Co., at a place called Dillingham. It became a member of the Alaska 
Packers Association in 1893 and was operated each year until 1907. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 61 

A couple of years later it was dismantled. This plant was popu- 
larly known as the "Bradford" cannery. 

The Nusha^ak Canning Co. built a cannery on the eastern shore 
of Nushagak Bay in 1888, at a place known as Clark Point, 5^ miles 
below Fort Alexander. This cannery also became a member of the 
Alaska Packers Association in 1893, but from 1891 to 1901 was not 
operated, but held in reserve. In the last-named year a large double 
cannery was built here and put into operation and has been operated 
each year since. 

This company also built and operated a saltery on the Igusliik 
River in ,1886. Three years later it was moved to the mouth of the 
Nushagak. In 1893 C. E. Whitney & Co. purchased an interest in 
it and by 1899 owned it all. In 1902 the saltery was sold to the 
Alaska Packers Association, which closed it down. 

In 1899 the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. built a cannery and com- 
menced canning on the eastern shore of Nushagak Bay at Fort Alex- 
ander, or Nushagak village. This cannery was purchased by the 
Pacific Packing & Navigation Co. in 1901, and upon the sale of its 
properties in 1904 became a part of the Northwestern Fisheries Co. 
It has been operated each year since the latter company acquired it. 

The same year the Alaska Fishermen's Packing Co., of Astoria, 
built a cannery immediately below that of the Pacific Steam Whaling 
Co., and operated it every year to date, control of the company 
passing to Libby, McNeill & Libby in 1913. 

In 1901 the Columbia River Packers Association, the Alaska- 
Portland Packers Association, and the Alaska Salmon Co. all built 
canneries on the Nushagak and have operated them to date, except 
the last named in 1909, when its supply ship was wrecked. The 
Alaska Fishermen's Packing Co. also built a saltery here. The 
latter plant was abandoned in 1904. 

In 1903 the North Alaska Salmon Co. operated a new cannery on 
the Nushagak, a few miles below Clark Point. 

In 1910, on August 10, shortly after the packing season had ended, 
the plant of the Alaska-Portland Packers Association was completely 
destroyed by fire. The plant was rebuilt in time to operate the next 
season. 

KVICHAK RIVER AND BAT. 

The Kvichak River is about 80 miles in length, varies from 100 
yards to a mile in width, and discharges a vast quantity of water 
The influence of the tide is felt 30 miles from the mouth. The cur- 
rent is very swift, running in places as much as 7 miles an hour. 
The upper half of the river is filled with low, grassy islands, the 
channels in many places being quite narrow. A launch drawing 3 
feet of water can reach Lake Iliamna with very little difficulty. In 
most sections there are over 2 fathoms of water in the channels. The 
river drains Iliamna Lake, the largest lake in Alaska, which is about 
90 miles long and about 30 miles wide, and Lake Clark. There are a 
number of Indian villages along the shores of the river and lakes. 

Practically all of the fishing here is carried on in Kvichak Bay, 
gill nets being the only form of apparatus in use. As it is not con- 
venient for the fishermen to take the catch to the canneries, large 
house lighters and scows are moored in convenient places and the 
fishermen live aboard the- former, while the fish are put aboard the 



62 U. S, BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

latter and taken to the canneries by the run boats. The numerous 
shoals in the bay seriously impede both fishing and navigation. 

The first fishing operations on the Kvichak were in 1894, when the 
Prosper Fishing & Trading Co. and the Alaska Packers Association 
each established a saltery and operated that year and in 1895; in 
1896 the latter purchased the plant of the former and consolidated 
the two. 

In 1895 the Point Roberts Packing Co., which was owned by the 
Alaska Packers Association, built a cannery at Koggiung, the site of 
the former saltery, and operated it the next year. 

In 1900 there was a considerable development in this region. The 
Kvichak Packing Co., owned by the i^laska Packers Association, 
built a cannery on the northern point of entrance to Bear Slough, 
while the North Alaska Salmon Co. built two canneries about 1,000 
feet apart on the left bank of the Kvichak, about 6 miles above 
Koggiung. 

The latter company built a cannery at Hallerville on the Lockenuck 
River, a tributary of the Kvichak, in 1904. In 1913 a large new can- 
nery to take the place of the Hallerville plant was built on the lower 
side of Pedersen Point, lower down on Kvichak Bay. In 1916 all 
the plants of this company were purchased by Libby, McNeill .& 
Libby and have been operated by that company since. 

The second plant of the Alaska Packers Association, known as the 
Coffee Creek plant, was burned down in 1906. It was rebuilt in 1908 
and operated again in 1909, and has been operated continuously 
ever since. 

In 1904 the Union Packing Co. established a cannery on the left 
bank a little distance above the canneries of the North Alaska Salmon 
Co., having moved this plant from its original location on KellBay, 
in southeast Alaska. It was operated until 1907, when it was aban- 
doned. 

About 1905 the Northwestern Packing Co. built a saltery on the east 
side of the bay. In 1908 it was sold to and operated by Nelson, 
Olsen & Co., who in 1910 sold it to the Alaska Fishermen's Packing 
Co., which the following year turned it into a cannery. In 1913 
Libby, McNeill & Libby bought this and the Nushagak plant, and 
continued to operate them under the old name. This cannery was 
destroyed by fire in the spring of 1915. It was rebuilt and operated 
in 1916. 

NAKNEK RIVER. 

But little is known of the Naknek River for more than 10 or 15 
miles from its mouth. It is said that the river is about 60 miles 
long, and has its rise in a lake which is of considerable size. With 
the exception of a short series of rapids, up which it is possible to 
haul a boat with a rope from the shore, the river is navigable for 
small craft. Shoals and banks, many of which uncover at low water, 
are abundant in the lower courses of the river. 

Red salmon is the principal species entering this river, although 
all the other species are to be found here in lesser abundance. They 
appear here a little later than in the Nushagak Bay. Only gill nets 
are used in fishing. 

The first commercial fishing on the Naknek River was in 1890, when 
the Arctic Packing Co. built and operated a saltery on the east bank 
about 4 miles from the mouth. This plant was sold to the Alaska 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHliRIES. 63 

Packers Association in 1893. The next year the latter huilt a 
cannery here, made the first pack in 1895, and has operated the can- 
nery every year since. Ultimately the saltery was merged with the 
cannery. 

In 1901 the association built another cannery about a mile nearer 
the mouth, and in 191 1 still another was built close to the mouth. 

In 1890 L. A. Pedersen built and operated a small saltery on the 
right bank about 3 miles from the mouth. In 1894 the Naknek 
Packing Co. purchased the saltery and erected a cannery a short 
distance above. Tliis saltery and another built on the shore of 
Kvichak Bay in 1897 were operated for some years. In 1907 the 
latter was turned into a cannery and operated by Mr. Pedersen under 
the name of the Bristol Bay Packing Co. The Nalmek Packing Co. 
cannery has been operated to date. 

In 1916 the Red Salmon Canning Co. built and operated a can- 
nery on the river about 2 miles above the plant of the Naknek Packing 
Co. 

In 1918 the Northwestern Fisheries Co. operated a new cannery 
on the river about 2 miles below the plant of the Naknek Packing Co. 

In 1919 the Alaska-Portland Packers Association operated a 
new cannery on the river several miles above the upper cannery of 
the Alaska Packers Association. 

UGAGUK RIVER. 

According to the natives this river, which is frequently called the 
Egegak, or Igagik, is about 80 miles long from the mouth to Lake 
Becharof, at the head. The lake itself is about 45 miles long and 15 
miles wide. The river is navigable for small boats to within 10 miles 
of the lake, whence there is a succession of rapids, around which it 
is necessary to portage. The lower part of the river has numerous 
shoals, some of which are exposed at low water. King Salmon River, 
the principal tributary, enters about 7^ miles from the mouth. 

The red salmon is the principal species, although all the other 
species are found in much lesser abundance. Gill nets alone are 
used here. 

In 1895 the Alaska Packers Association established a fishing sta- 
tion on the right bank about 5 miles from the mouth and operated 
as a saltery until 1900, when the apparatus was moved to the cannery 
site. 

In 1899 the Alaska Packers Association, under the name of the 
Egegak Packing Co., commenced building a cannery on the left bank 
opposite and a little above the salting station. This plant was finished 
in 1900 and packs were made that year and each succeeding year 
except 1905 and 1906. 

In 1903 the North Alaska Salmon Co. built and operated a can- 
nery on the opposite shore from the Alaska Packers Association, and 
has operated it each year to date, of late yeai*s under the name of its 
new owners, Libby, McNeill & Libby. 

UGASHIK RIVER. 

This river has its rise in a chain of two lakes, but with the excep- 
tion of that portion below the upper cannery, about 25 miles, it is 
very little known to the whites. The river is very tortuous in its 



64 XJ. S. BUREAU or FISHERIES. 

course. It has two known tributaries — King Salmon River, wliich 
enters through the left bank about 17 miles from the bar at the mouth, 
and Dog Salmon River, which enters through the left bank about 37 
miles from the bar. From Smoky Point to the capes at the mouth 
the river widens very greatly, being about 20 miles across at the 
mouth. Shoals are numerous, but there is a channel with about 9 
feet at low water. Gill nets exclusively are used here. 

This river is essentially a red salmon stream, but the other species 
are also taken in small numberS; although the humpback is very 
scarce. This river is noted for the great falling off in the run of red 
salmon of recent years, 769,002 red salmon being taken in 1901, 
1,640,973 in 1902, 1,703,536 in 1903, 564,492 in 1904, 432,779 in 1905, 
and 152,140 in 1906. About 1916 the run showed signs of improve- 
ment and during 1917 and 1918 was excellent, but the run of 1919 
was small, the same as elsewhere in Bristol Bay. 

C. A. Johnson was the first man to operate commercially on this 
river, having erected a saltery on the left bank, about 23 miles above 
Smoky Point, in 1889, and operated it continuously from 1889 to 
1898, both inclusive. This saltery was merged in the cannery of the 
Bering Sea Packing Co. In 1894 Mr. Johnson established and oper- 
ated another saltery on the right bank of the river, about 12 miles 
from the bar, which he sold in 1899 to the Alaska Packers Association, 
who absorbed it in their cannery plant. 

The Bering Sea Packing Co., a branch of the Alaska Improvement 
Association, in 1890 built the first cannery on the river, this being 
located on the left bank near the first Johnson saltery. A small pack 
was first made in 1891. The plant was closed in 1892 and 1893, 
and as the location had proven far from suitable, it was, in 1894, 
moved to a point on the left bank, about 15 miles above Smoky 
Point, where it was operated until 1896. The next year it was sold 
to the Alaska Packers Association. The machinery and equipment 
were utilized in the latter company's cannery, and the old location 
abandoned. 

In 1893 Charles Nelson established a saltery on the left bank of 
the Ugashik, immediately above the last site of the Bering Sea Pack- 
ing Co. It was operated in 1893 and 1894, and then sold to the 
Alaska Packers Association, who closed it down. 

In 1893 the Alaska Packers Association also built a saltery on the 
left bank of the river about a mile below the last site of the Bering 
Sea Packing Co. It was operated each year until 1895, when it was 
merged into the association's cannery. 

In 1895 the Alaska Packers Association built a cannery^ known as 
the Ugashik Fishing Station, on the right bank of the river imme- 
diately above the pilot station, which is about 12 miles from the bar. 
It made the first pack in 1896 and packed every year until 1907, 
when it was closed. In 1906 its outfit was destroyed in the San 
Francisco fire, a;nd it was decided to operate it as a saltery, but the 
burning down of the Coffee Creek cannery of the association on the 
Kvichak changed the plans, and a part of the saved outfit of the latter 
was sent to the Ugashik and the plant operated as a cannery. 

The Bristol Packing Co. built a cannery on the left bank of the 
river about 25 miles from Smoky Point in 1900. A pack was made 
the same year and the plant operated continuously until 1906, when 
it was shut down, and a small salting crew operated a portion of the 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 65 

plant. Eventually the plant was dismantled without operating 
again as a cannery. 

In 1901 the Alaska Packers Association built and put into opera- 
tion another cannery about 15 miles up the river from the other one. 
In 1906 this plant was shut down and eventually it was dismantled. 

In 1901 the Red Salmon Canning Co. also built and operated a 
cannery still farther up the river and has operated it continuously 
to date. 

ALASKA PENINSULA, BERING SEA SIDE. 

Of recent years canneries have been located on the Bering Sea 
side of the Alaska Pcnhisula, outside of Bristol Bay proper, but it is 
probable that their numbers will not be large in the future, as the 
fisheries tril)utary to them are not very extensive, and are also very 
much scattered, making transportation expensive. 

Port Heiden. — This important hi dentation on the Bering Sea side 
of the Alaska Peninsula, about midway between the ITgashik River 
and Port Moller, has never figured to any considerable extent in fish- 
irig operations. In 1912 and 1913 Gorman & Co. had the schooner 
Hamet G. located here throughout the season, engaged in salting 
salmon. The Illnik Packing Co. operated a saltery here in 1918. 

Port Moller. — This great indentation in the Alaska Penhisula, be- 
tween Port Heiden and Nelson Lagoon, was neglected for many years 
for the more profitable Bristol Bay region. 

About 1902 the Bering Sea Packing & TradhigCo. (there seems to 
be some confusion between this name and that of the Peninsular 
Packing Co., the latter being the lame the company was known by 
after the first year or two in the official records), established a saltery 
on Bear River, w^hich debouches a little east of Port Moller, and 
operated it until 1006, after which operations were suspended and 
but little is now left of the plant. 

In 1912 the Pacific American Fisheries erected a cannery on Port 
Moller, but it was not operated until 1913. This concern has been 
successful mainly because of its introduction of purse seines in fishuig. 

In 1916 the Bering Sea Pacldng Co. built and operated a cannery 
on Herendeen Bay, a branch of Port Moller. In 1917 two new can- 
neries were built and operated here, that is, the Fidalgo Island Pack- 
ing Co. and the Phoenix Packin.g Co. In 1918 the Bermg Sea Pack- 
ing Co. was taken over by the Everett Packing Co. In 1919 all three 
Herendeen Bay canneries, as a result of the exceedingly slight runs 
of the two previous seasons, combined forces for the season and put 
up all the fish caught at the plant of the Fidalgo Island Packing Co. 

Nelson Lagoon. — Nelson Lagoon is on the Beruig Sea side of the 
Alaska Peninsula, is about 6 miles in length and about 2 miles in 
width. At its western end debouches the Nelson River, which is 
about a mile wide at its mouth. About 18 miles from the mouth the 
river divides, both branches havhig their rise in lakes. There is an 
easy portage from the lakes to Pavlof Bay, on the Pacific side of the 

feninsula, and this route is used frequently by both white men and 
ndians. The run is mainly of red salmon, and gill nets and traps are 
utilized. Duruig the last lew years purse seines have been used in 
this region, with coi siderable success. 

11312°— 21 5 



66 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

In 1902 Charles Johnson, who had operated on the Ugashik River, 
established a saltery here and operated it under the name of the 
Lagoon Salmon Co., and made a pack that and the succeeding year. 
In 1904 and 1905 it was shut down. It was reopened in 1906 and con- 
tmued to operate until it was sold in 1914. In 1915 the new owners, 
the Nelson Lagoon Packing Co., built a cannery here which was 
oparated until 1920, when it was shut down. 

TJnalaska Island. — In 1916 the Pacific American Fisheries, having 
obtained a permit from the Department of Commerce, built a can- 
nery at Unalaska, on Unalaska Island. This cannery is located 
inside of the Aleutian Islands reserve, and permit was given for its 
building and operation so that it might be possible for the Indians of 
Unalaska and Dutch Harbor to obtain work at home and save them 
the long trip to the Bristol Bay plants. It ceased operations at the 
end of the 1917 season. 

KUSKOKWIM RIVER. 

This, one of the great rivers of Alaska, has been but little exploited 
as yet. Very little accurate data have been obtainable about the 
river until within the last couple of years, and this relates mainly to 
the bay and a few miles of the adjacent river, which the United 
States Coast and Geodetic Survey has charted. 

We know that the river has considerable runs of salmon, but 
usually ice conditions have been such in the spring that a cannery 
crew frequently could not get in in time to prepare for the run. In 
1906 a salting outfit was sent here by Seattle dealers, but arrived tooi 
late for the run of fish. The outfit was cached at Bethel. 

During the last seven years some mild curing of king salmon has 
been carried on here, but the lack of cold storage, both ashore and on 
the vessels operating to and from the river, has prevented any con- 
siderable development of this industry. 

YUKON RIVER. 

The 1918 report of the Alaska agent of the United States Bureau of 
Fisheries " contains the following account of the development of the 
salmon fisheries of the Yukon River: 

The development of the Yukon salmon fisheries began in 1918 with the establish- • 
ment of a floating cannery at Andreafski. The season's operations resulted in a pack • 
of 13,463 cases of salmon, divided as follows: Cohos 2,661, chums 6,471, humpbacks- 
107, and kings 4,224 cases . In addition to tliis, 10,400 pounds of cohos and chums were ' 
dry-salted. The total catch of salmon for the cannery was 115,531, of which 26,14-1 
were cohos, 73,921 cbum-s, 3,227 humpbacks, and 12,239 Idngs. Fishing was carried i 
on from the mouth of the Yukon to a point above the junction of Clear River, chiefly 
in that part of the Yukon delta known as Kwikluak Pass. The fishing seasons were; 
as follows: Kings, June 26 to August 17; chums, June 28 to September 8; humpbacks, , 
July 7 to July 29; and cohos, August 3 to September 8 Some of the cannerymen and 1 
others frequently refer to salmon of one kind by the name "Yukons" or " Yukon i 
salmon." In so doing they mean bright or fresh-run chums. 

An investment of $48,000 was made in the plant One stern- wheeler, the Martha i 
Clmv (65 tons net), one gas boat, the Allhea (17 tons net^ and three smaller power boats 
were operated in connection with the cannery. Salmon were taken -udth 124 gill nets 
aggregating 9,869 fathoms, and 6 wheels of the two-scoop pattern. Employment waa 
given to 169 men, 55 being fishermen. 102 slioresmen, and 12 transporters. Of these 
36 were natives, 13 of whom were listed as fishermen. 

a Alaska Fisheries and Fiir Industries in 1918. By Ward T. Bower. Appendix VII, Report, U. S. Com- 
missioner of Fisheries, 1918, pp. 29-30. Washington, 1919. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. G7 

Stokes A Stokes operated a small saltery on the lower Yukon, parking 15 barrels of 
chum salmon. Their plant wa? valued at $1,500. Equipment consisted of one 
power boat and 300 fathomfs of gill nets. They report having located too far up the 
river, but before another season will move to a point lower down. 

Warden (\ F. Townsend reported tiiat one Sepella operated a saltery on the Yukon 
about 12 miles from salt water and that a pack of 110 barrels of chums and cohos was 
made. Salmon were taken mtli gill nets and one wheel. Mr. Townsend also advised 
that the Delta Fishing Co. was in the field in a small way. 

Statistics compiled at the close oi' tlie season of 191S indicate that exclusive of gear 
operated by the cannery and salteries near the mouth of the river, the whites and 
natives on the Yukon and tributary waters used 393 fish wheels, valued at ?19.f)50, and 
130 gill nets aggregating 3,250 fathoms, valued at $6,500. The astimated catch for 
local requirements w;is 1,400,000 salmon, wliich when dried represented approximately 
700 tons of fish, valued at $140,000. 

The total population of the Yukon region of Alaska, dependent in some measure on 
the fisheries, was estimated late in 1918 a,s being 10,907, of wliich number (),(i;]8 were 
whites and 4,269 were natives. The number of dogs in the region was estimated at 
6,18.3. 

Prior to the season of 1918 the size of the run of salmon in the Yukon was an almost 
unknown quantity. The belief was expressed in some quarters that a comparatively 
small run ascended its waters, but others who were interested in the commercial 
exploitation of its fisheries held the opinion that a run aggregating many millions of 
salmon annually ascended the river. The necessity of raaintaining the lisheries is 
paramount at all times, and if it is reasonable to suppose that a serious depletion o'' the 
sujjply by unrestricted fishing seems imminent, limitations must necessarily be 
imposed. This was done on Decemlier 11, 1918, by the promulgation of regulations 
affecting commercial fishing for salmon in the Yukon River. The closing order which 
is published in full on page 11 in tliis report became effective January 1, 1919. 

MISCELLANEOUS PLACES. 

At times small quantities of salted salmon have been packed in 
Bering Sea in the neighborhood of Nome and St. Michael. In 1917 
the Arctic Fish Co. operated on a large scow on Golovm Bay, near 
Nome. 

ARCTIC OCEAN. 

Although it is known that there are good runs of salmon in some 
of the rivers debouching into the Arctic, the ice and other conditions 
have deterred people from attempting to extend their operations 
into this region. In 1912, however, the Midnight Sun Packing Co. 
built and operated a small cannery on Kotzebue Sound, in the Arctic 
Ocean. A small pack, mostlv of Dolly Varden trout, was made in 
that and subsequent years, "the plant was not operated in 1919. 

BRITISH COLUMBIA.^ 

Fraser River. — This, the largest river in British Columbia (over 
1,000 miles in length), has been important from a fishery standpoint 
ever since salmon canning was taken up commercially. 

The Hudson Bay Co., the first to prepare salmon for commercial 

Eurposes, bought the fish from the Indians and pickled them in 
arrels for export, mainly to the Hawaiian Islands and Asia. 
Howay,'' in his work on "British Columbia," after describing 
briefly the fishing operations carried on by the Hudson Bay Co. in 
the Fraser River, has the following to say with respect to the develop- 

o The author is indebted to Henry Doyle, of Vancouver, British Cohimbia, for practically all of the 
historical data relating to the canning industry of British Columbia, and hereby expresses his deep appreci- 
ation for tliis and many other courtesies. 

b British Columbia, from the earliest Times to the Present. By F. W. Howay. 4 vols.,illus. Van- 
couver, 1914. . 



68 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

ment of the commercial salmon fisheries and the preparation of the 
catch by salting and canning on the part of the mdependents who 
succeeded the company: 

SALMON CANNING INTUUKTRY. 

No sketch of our history could be called complete without containing some reference 
to the origin and development, during the early stages, at any rate, of the industry of 
salmon canning. 

By its charter tlie Hudson Bay Co. was granted "the fishing of all sorts of fish, whales, 
sturgeons, and all other royal fishes in the seas, bays, inlets, and rivers, within the 
premises (that is witliin the undefined area surrounding Hudson Bay), and the fish 
taken therein." Though no similar grant was contained in the exclusive license of 
trade witli the Indians west of the Rocky Mountains, which was the only title the 
company had in this region, yet it claimed and exercised a monopoly of the salmon 
fishing on the Fraser River. 

Reference has already been made to the salmon fishery carried on by the company 
at San Juan Island. In August, 1829, at Fort Langley (the name ofthis place has since 
been changed to Derby) 7,544 salmon v^^ere obtained from the natives at a cost of £13 
17s. 2d. in goods. The trade increased; in 1835 and for many years thereafter 3,000 
or 4,000 barrels of salt salmon were exported, principally to the Hawaiian Islands. 
With the re^•ocation of the license in 1858 this claim of monopoly fell. 

Capt. William Spring, in 1863, began salting and curing salmon at Beechy Bay. 
In the following year Mr Annandale, with whom Mr. Alexander Ewen was associated, 
opened a salmon saltery on Fraser River. This venture was almost a complete failure 
owing to the attempt to use the Scotch trap nets instead of drift nets. The former 
were found utterly unsuited to the conditions on Fraser River. When this enter- 
prise failed, Mr. Ewen introduced drift nets and carried on an extensive business in 
salted salmon ^\ith the Hav-^aiian Islands and Australia. 

The first attempt, on the Fraser River, to preserve salmon in hermetically sealed 
cans was made in 1867 by James Symes. This was not a commercial effort, but a mere 
experimental test to ascertain the possibility. A few cases were prepared, filled, and 
cooked by boiling on an ordinary kitchen stove. The result was most encouraging. 
The product was shown at the agricultural exhibition held in New Westminster in 
October, 1867, and wa.s pronounced excellent, the directors making special mention 
of it. 

About the same year Donald McLean established another salmon-curing establish- 
ment at New Westminster. Besides salted salmon, he put up pickled salmon, salmon 
boiled and preserved in vinegar, and smoked and kippered salmon. 

The canning of salmon as a business was first undertaken on the Fraser by Alexander 
I>oggie & Co. The persons interested were Alexander Loggie, Alexander Ewen. 
James Wise, and David S. Hennessy. Mr. Wise was an experienced fisherrnan; 
Messrs. Loggie and Hennessy had had experience in the canneries of New Brunswick. 
In June, 1870, these persons built, in connection with a salmon saltery, the first salmon 
cannery in British Columbia. It was located at Annieville, about 3 miles below New 
Westminister. The cannery was a very primitive affair; the cylinders upon which 
the cans were shaped were of wood covered with sheet iron ; the trays were small wooden 
contrivances holding about three dozen one-pound cans. There was pra,ctically no 
machinery ; the operations were almost entirely by hand . The fish after being put into 
the cans was preserved by boiling in large wooden vats. Great difficulty was experien- 
ced in thoroughly cooking the iish, the boiling point of ordinary water not proving 
sufficient; to overcome this, salt was added to the water, and by this means the tempera- 
ture was raised to 230°. The roominwhich the cooking was performed was, in tempera- 
ture like a Turkish bathroom; no windows or doors were allowed to be opened, except 
of necessity, under the mistaken idea that the cold currents of air would injure the 
product. 

Capt. Stamp, who has been frequently mentioned in the foregoing pages, also 
entered the business at the same time. His cannery was located at Sapperton, New 
Westminster. He did not attempt to manufacture his cans, but obtained his supply 
from Mr. Deas, a tinsmith of Victoria. 

About 1873, Loggie & Co. removed their cannery to New Westminster, where in the 
meantime Messrs. Lane, Pike, and Nelson had established themselves in the same 
business. These latter persons conceived the plan of canning the salmon whole; the 
sockeyes, being of an almost uniform size, lent themselves readily to this attempt. It 
was, however, a failure, as owing to the great vacuum in the cans, they became much 
distorted. 



PACIFIC SA1,M0N FISHERIES. 69 

In 1872 Holbrook & Co. purchased a small cannery which had been 
started at Sapporton by Capt. Stamj) some tune before, and operated 
it for a few years. 

In 187(5 there were three canneries running, consisting of Holbrook 
& Co., Ewen & Co., and the British Columbia Canning Co. (Deas 
Islnnd). 

The following year this was increased by English & Co, and Fin- 
layson & Lane, the latter ((uitting after one season, being succeeded 
in 1878 by Lane, Pike & Nelson. King & Co., the British Columbia 
cannery (Annieville), and the Delta cannery also commenced opera- 
tions the latter year. 

In 1879 Holbrook & Co., and Lane, Pike & Nelson dropped out, 
and Haigh & Sons (succeeded in 1884 by the Bon Accord Packing 
Co.) commenced operations. 

King & Co. were burned out in 1880, and Adair & Co., afterwards 
known as the Wellington Packing Co., commenced. A year later 
Laidlaw & Co. commenced operations. 

In 1882 the British Union Packing Co., afterwards known as the 
Harlock Packing Co., commenced packing salmon. The British- 
American cannery and J. H. Todd & Sons (Richmond cannery) also 
began operations. 

Joseph Spratt started a floating cannery, known as "Spratt's Ark," 
in 1883; he retired at the end of two years. E. A. Wadhams also 
began operations in 1883. In 1887 the Holly cannery was built on 
Lulu Island opposite Deas Island. The high water of June, 1894, 
partially destroyed it and the site was abandoned. 

No more additi( nal plants were built imtil Hobsc n & Co. started in 
1889. The Canoe Pa^s Canning Co. also started the same year, as 
did J. H. Todd & Sons with their Beaver cannery. 

The Anglo British Columbia Packing Co, was fonned in 1891, tak- 
ing over the canneries formerly operated by the British Columbia 
Packing Co. (old Annieville plant), E. A. Wadhams, British-American 
Packing Co., Canje Pass Cannng (3o., Dm an & Batchelor (Britannia 
cannery), and English & Co. (Plu cnix cannory). 

In 1892 the Terra Nova Canning Co. began operatic n>, and the 
next year the Lulu Island Canning Co., Steveston Cannmg Co., 
Pacific Coast Packing C'o., Canadian Pacific Pacldng Co., Short & 
Squair, and Butimar & Dawson (at Steveston) all commenced oper- 
aticn. 

In 1894 the Gulf of Georgia Canning Co,, Dinsmore Island Canning 
Co., Sea Island Packing Co., and the Fishermen's Packing Co. all 
built and began to operate canneries. 

The AlHance Canning Co., Atlas Canning Co., Boutiliar & Co., and 
the Star Canning Co. commenced operations in 1895. 

There was considerable development in 1896, when the Anglo- 
American Canning Co., Eraser River Industrial Co., Hume & Co., 
Provincial Canning Co., Westham Island Packing Co., Westminster 
Packing Co., and the Vancouver Packing Co. all started canning. 

In 1897 the Premier Canning Co., Sinclair Canning Co., Western 
Fisheries, Cleve Canning Co., Welsh Bros., Currie, McWilliams & 
Fowler, Butimar & Dawson (at Canoe Pass), Colonial Canning Co., 
and the Eraser Canning Co, all began operating. 

The English Bay cannery was added to the list in 1898, but the 
Sinclair Canning Co. and Western Fisheries plants were both de- 



70 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

stroyed by fire at New Westminster and not rebuilt. The plant of 
the Steveston Canning Co. was absorbed that year by the Federation 
Brand vSalmon Canning Co. and the cannery renamed the ''Light- 
house" cannery. 

In 1899 the Greenwood Canning Co., Scottish Canadian Canning Co., 
St. Mungo Canning Co., Wurzburg & Co., and Acme Canning Co. all 
began active operations, while in 1900 the Great Northern Canning 
Co. was the only addition to the list. Tn 1900 the United Canneries 
(Ltd.) was formed to take over the Gulf of Georgia, EngHsh Bay, and 
Scottish Canadian plants, and the Canadian Canning Co. this year 
also absorbed the Star, Fraser, and Vancouver canneries. In 1901 
the National Packing Co. built at Ea^le Harbor. 

Like the other canning sections, British Columbia suffered in 1901 
from an oversupply of canned salmon, due to the large number of 
plants which had been erected and which were producing more 
salmon than market could be found for. At this juncture the British 
Columbia Packers Association was formed. It embraced 29 out of 
the 48 plants on the Fraser River and 12 of those situated in Northern 
British Columbia waters, including the following plants: Ewen & Co., 
Delta, Ilarlock, Wellington, Lulu Island, Terra Nova, Pacific Coast, 
Canadian Pacific, Short & Squair (Imperial cannery) , Brunswick can- 
neries at Steveston and Canoe Pass, Dinsmore Island, Sea Island, 
Fisherman's Packing Co., Reliance cannery. Atlas cannery, Boutiliar 
& Co., Hume & Co., Anglo-American, Provincial, Westham Island, 
Westminster Packing Co., Premier, Cleve, Welsh Bros., Currie, Mc Wil- 
liams & Fowder, Colonial, Greenwood, Wurzburg & Co., and the Acme 
Canning Co. In 1914 the corporation style was changed to the 
British Columbia Fishincr St Packing Co. (I.td.). 

In 1902 the Fraser River Industrial cannery was sold to C. S. 
Windsor; in 1905 this plant was sold by Mr. Windsor to Peter 
Birrell. 

In 1905 the Burrard Canning Co., Steveston Canning Co., Butimar 
& Dawson, Unique cannery, and the Vancouver Fish & Canning Co. 
were all built and operated. The latter was burned in the middle of 
the season. The same year the Great Northern cannery was pur- 
chased by McPherson & Wilkinson. 

In 1906 the Great West Packing Co. cannery was built at vSteves- 
ton; the Nye Canning Co. operated for part of the season on False 
Creek in Vancouver, and the Capital City Canning Co. built a plant 
at Victoria. The same year the Lighthouse cannery was leased for 
the season by the Royal Packing Co.; while in the following year the 
L^uique cannery was dismantled. 

In 1909 the Gulf of Georgia cannery was sold to M. Desbrisay & 
Co.; Peter Birrell sold the Industrial cannery to the Glen Rosa 
Canning Co., who have since operated it; the Lighthouse cannery was 
leased for the season by Kildala Packing Co.; the Gosse-Millerd 
Packing Co. purchased the Steveston Canning Co.'s plant; while the 
following year the Lighthouse cannery was leased for the season by 
Ijee Coy. 

In 1912 the Lighthouse cannery was sold to C. S. Windsor and asso- 
ciates. The Scottish-Canadian cannery was also sold to C. S. Windsor 
and associates, by whom it was operated under the name of the 
Scottish-Canadian Canning Co. until 1914. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 71 

In 1913 the Great Northern cannery was leased for the season to the 
English Fisheries (Ltd.), while in the foUowini^ year the Gosse- 
Millerd Packing Co. bought the Vancouver and Fruser canneries 
from the receiver of the Canadian Canning Co. The Jervis Inlet 
Canning Co. acquired the Lighthouse cannery the same year. 

The Scottish-Canadian cannery was acquired in 1915 by the 
Graham Co., while the Great Northern cannery was sold to the 
Defiance Packing Co. 

In 1916 a new cannery was built at Liverpool, South Westminster, 
by the Liverpool Canning Co. 

In 1917 the Gosse-Millerd Packing Co. purchased the Star cannery 
which hud been lying idle since 1913; the Booth Fisheries Co. leased 
the Scottish-Canadian cannery for the season. They held an option 
to purchase same, but did not exercise it, and the plant has since been 
closed down. The ClifT-Lowman Packing Co. acquired the Light- 
house cannery from the Jervis Inlet Canning Co. 

In 1918 the Canadian Fishing Co. built at Vancouver, and while 
their plant is not on the Fraser River it is classed in that area, as 
its pack will be largely secured from Fraser River fish. 

Earlv in the spring of 1919 fire destroyed the Star, Steveston, and 
Lighthouse canneries, none of which have been rebuilt. 

Skeena River. — The first cannery to be built on the Skeena River 
was in 1877, when a man named Neill built one at Inverness. In 
1878 the Windsor Canning Co., consisting of Henry Saunders, W. H. 
Dempster, and John Wilson, of Victoria, established u cannery at 
Aberdeen. / 

There were no additions until in 1883, when the Balmoral cannery 
the British-American, and Robert Cunningham canneries were started. 

In 1889 the North Pacific was started and in 1890 the Standard. 
In 1891 the Anglo-British Columbia Packing Co. bought the British- 
American cannery and the North Pacific Canning Co. cannery. In 
1892 the Claxton, and in 1895 the Carlisle, canneries were built. In 
1899 the Claxton cannery was purchased by the Wallace Bros. 
Packing Co. The Peter Herman (afterwards the Skeena River Com- 
mercial Co.) and Turnbull canneries were built in 1900. The last 
named operated only four seasons. 

In 1902 the British Columbia Packers Association acquired the 
Balmoral, Cimningham, and Standard canneries. 

In 1903 the Cassiar cannery was built. The next year the Alex- 
andria Packing Co. was started. It was later acquired by the 
British Columbia Packers Association, as was also the Dominion can- 
nery, which was built in 1906. 

The Carlisle cannery was sold in 1906 to the Kildala Packing Co. 

In 1911 the Wallace Fisheries (Ltd.) purchased the Claxton can- 
nery from the Wallace Bros. Packing Co., while in 1913 the Canadian 
Fisn & Cold vStorage Co. built a cannery at Tucks Inlet, where their 
supply of salmon is obtained from the Skeena fishermen. 

In 1916 the Gosse-Millerd Packing Co. built their Sunnyside plant. 
In 1918 the Northern British Columbia Fisheries (Ltd.) purchased 
the Skeena River Commercial Co.'s plant at Port Essington, and also 
erected a new cannery at Port Edward. 

Rivers Inlet. — The first cannery to be built and operated on Rivers 
Inlet was in 1881 by Shotbolt & Draney, afterwards the British 



72 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Columbia Canning Co. The Wannuck cannery was built in 1884, 
the Good Plope in 1895, the Brunswick in 1896, the Wadhams and 
the Vancouver in 1897. 

There were no changes until 1902, when the British Columbia 
Packers Association acquired the Wadhams, Brunswick, Wannuck, 
and Vancouver, the two latter being dismantled and the two former 
enlarged correspondingly. 

In 1906 the Beaver cannery was built by J. H. Todd & Sons, the 
Kildalla cannery by the Kildalla Packing Co., and the Strathcona 
cannery by Bain & Wilson, the latter afterwards being acquired by 
the Wallace Fisheries (Ltd.). 

In 1911 the Strathcona Packing Co.'s plant was purchased by 
Wallace Fisheries (Ltd.). In 1917 the Provincial Canning Co. built 
a plant, and in 1918 the McTavish Canning Co. also built one. 

Nass River. — The first cannery to be built on the Nass River was 
by Henry Croasdale in 1881, and it operated for four years. The 
Douglas Packing Co. built a cannery here in 1882 and operated it for 
two years. Both were then shut down owing to the fact that the 
locations were too far up the river for steamers to move the packs. 
In 1888 the plants were dismantled and removed to Nass Harbor and 
Mill Bay, respectively. In 1889 the Cascade Packing Co. commenced 
operations, but the plant was dismantled in 1893. 

In 1903 the Pacific Northern cannery was built near the mouth of 
Observatory Inlet, and in 1905 it was purchased by John Wallace, 
who moved it to Arrandale. In the latter year the Port Nelson 
Canning & Salting Co. started. In 1908 the Mill Bay cannery was 
purchased by the Kincolith Packing Co. In 1911 the Arrandale and 
Port Nelson canneries were bought by the Anglo British Columbia 
Packing Co., and in the following year the Nass Harbor cannery was 
bought ])y the British Columbia Packers Association. 

The Wales Island cannery, which became Canadian property under 
the Alaska boundary award, was in 1911 purchased by M. Desbrisay 
& Co., by whom it has since been continuously operated. 

In 1916 the Kincolith Packing Co.'s Mill Bay plant was purchased 
by the Kincolith Fisheries (Ltd.), while in 1918 the Northern British 
Columbia Fisheries (Ltd.) purchased the Mill Bay cannery from the 
Kincolith Fisheries (Ltd.) and built a new plant at Kumeon. The 
Western Salmon Packing Co. also built a new plant at Summerville 
the same year. 

Queen Charlotte Islands. — In 1912 the British Columbia Fisheries 
(Ltd.), a concern promoted by Sir George Doughty, M. P., of Grimsby, 
England, built a cannery at Aliford Bay, Skidegate Inlet, and operated 
same for two seasons. The British Columbia Fisheries (Ltd.) then 
went into insolvency, and the plant remained idle mitil 1916, when 
it operated mider lease to the Western Salmon Packing Co. In 1917 
the cannery was purchased by the Maritime Fisheries (Ltd.), the 
present owners. 

The Wallace Fisheries (Ltd.), built at Naden Harbor in 1912, 
and operated that and the following seasons. The cannery was not 
in commission during 1914 or 1915, but ran in the years 1916 to 1918, 
inclusive. It was found that Masset Inlet would be a more suitable 
location, and in 1919 the plant removed from Naden Harbor to a 
new site on the shores of the Inlet. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 73 

A cannery was built at Lockoport in 1918 by the Lockeport Can- 
ning Co. The same year the Western Sahnon Packing Co. (Ltd.) 
built a plant at Lagoon Bay. 

Miscellaneous places. — A cannery was built at Metlakatla in 1882 
by Rev. John Duncan for the Metlakatla Indians, fish being obtained 
from Skeena River. The plant was dismantled in 1886. 

John Rood built the first cannery on Smiths Inlet, in Quachela 
Lagoon, in 1883. It was closed hi 1884, and the plant moved to 
Wannuck, Rivers Inlet, to which place also the Smiths Inlet fish were 
subsequently transported for packing purposes. In 1902 the Wm. 
Hickey Canning Co. built a new plant on Smiths Inlet, selling same 
in 1912 to the Wallace Fisheries (Ltd.). The Western Packers (Ltd.) 
also built at Marguerite Bay m 1917. 

A cannery was built at Lowe Inlet in 1890 by the Lowe Inlet 
Canning Co. It was sold to the British Columbia Packers Association 
in 1902. 

In 1890 a cannery was built at Gardiner Canal by a man named 
Price and his associates. It ran until 1893, when it was dismantled 
and closed. 

Robert Draney built at Namu in 1893, selhng out in 1912 to the 
Draney Fisheries (Ltd.), who in turn sold out to the Northern British 
Columbia Fisheries (Ltd.) in 1918. 

Robert Draney built the Kimsquit cannery m 1901, and in 1907 
the Kildalla Packing Co. built the Manitou cannery. The latter is 
still operating, but in 1912 the Draney Fisheries (Ltd.) purchased 
the Kimsquit caimery, and in 1918 sold it again to the Northern 
British Columbia Fisheries (Ltd.). 

In 1900 the Bella Coola cannery was built by John Clayton and 
sold by him in 1902 to the British Columbia Packers Association, who 
have operated it ever since. In 1917 a new cannery was built by 
the Tallheo Fisheries (Ltd.) and sold by them in 1918 to the Northern 
British Columbia Fisheries (Ltd.). 

Toms, Morris & Fraser built at China Hat in 1900 and sold to the 
British Columbia Packers Association in 1902. The latter dis- 
mantled and closed the plant m the fall of that year. 

A cannery was built at Warke Island in 1911 by John Wallace, 
principally for packing Gardiner Canal fish. Plant was purchased 
in 1917 by the Western Packers (Ltd.), who have since operated it. 

A cannery was built at Bella Bella in 1912 by the East Bella Bella 
Canning Co. It was sold in 1915 to the Gosse-MiUerd Packing Co., 
who have since operated it. 

The cannery built at Alert Bay in 1881 by S. A. Spencer was pur- 
chased in 1902 by the British Columbia Packers Association, who 
have since operated same. 

Cannery was built at Clayoquot in 1895 by Earle & Magneson. 
It was purchased by the Clayoquot Sound Canning Co. in 1902, by 
whom it has since been operated. 

A caimery was erected at Bute Inlet in 1890 by C. S. Windsor and 
George Hobson, but only operated the one season. 

The West Coast Packing Co. was built and operated at Nootka 
Sound in 1896, but only secured 112 cases. The plant was dis- 
mantled and abandoned. In 1917 a new plant was erected by the 
Nootka Packing Co., who have since operated steadily. 



74 U. S. BUKEAU OF FISHERIES. 

Dawson & Buttimer built at Alberni Canal in 1903. They sold 
out to the Wallace Fisheries (Ltd.) in 1911, and the latter have 
operated steadily ever since. 

Pidcock Bros, built a small cannery at Quathiaski Cove in 1904. 
They operated it that and the following year and then sold to T. E. 
Atkins in 1907. This plant was destroyed by fire in 1909, and the 
following year the Quatliiaski Canning Co. built a new plant, which 
has operated steadily since. 

A small cannery was built at Pender Harbor in 1906 by P. H. 
Alder. It operated for two seasons and was then closed down and 
dismantled. 

J. H. Todd & Sons and the Capital City Canning Co. both built at 
Victoria in 1905 (the former at Esquimalt). Messrs. Todd & Son 
still operate, but the Capital City Canning Co. plant was closed and 
dismantled in 1914. 

Capt. R. E. Gosse built at Knight Inlet in 1907 at Sargeants 
Passage, but moved the plant to Glendale Cove in 1910, and at the 
close of that season sold the cannery to the Anglo British Columbia 
Packing Co., who have since operated it. 

The Wallace Fisheries (Ltd.) built a cannery at Quatsino Sound 
in 1911, but dismantled it in 1914. 

The Goletas Fish Co. built at Shushartis Bay in 1914, and after 
operating for three seasons sold the plant in 1917 to the Western 
Packers (Ltd.), the present owners. 

The Gilford Fish Co. built a cannery at Kingcombe Inlet in 1914. 
After operating it that season they sold to the Preston Packing Co., 
the present owners. 

The Jervis Inlet Canning Co. built a cannery at Jervis Inlet in 1912, 
operating it that and the following season. In the faU of 1913 it 
was destroyed by fire. In 1917 the C. L. Packing Co. erected a new 
plant at Green Bay, Jervis Inlet. 

The Nanaimo Canning Co. started at Nanaimo in 1913 and operated 
until 1916, in which year the plant was acquired by the Nanaimo 
Canners & Packers (Ltd.). 

The Quathiaski Canning Co. was built at Blind Cove in 1916 ; the 
Gulf Island Fish Co., at Lasqueti Island, in 1916; and the Sidney 
Canning Co., at Sidney, in 1916. 

The Redonda Island Canning & Cold Storage Co. built a cannery 
at Redonda Island m 1917, while the Lummi Bay Packing Co. built 
a cannery at Nitnat in 1917. 

In 1918 the Defiance Packing Co. built a cannery at Port Renfrew, 
while in 1919 the Gosse-Millerd Packing Co. built one at San Mateo. 

SALMON FISHING IN THE HEADWATERS. 

Considerable sahnon fishing is carried on in the headwaters of cer- 
tain of the larger rivers of the coast, of which no account appears in 
the data of the commercial fisheries. This is due to the fact that the 
fishing is usually of a desultory character, the fisheries are few in 
number and scattered widely, and while the catch in the aggregate is 
considerable it does not amount to much in any one spot. 

The Colmnbia River is a typical example of such a stream. Com- 
mercial fishing is usually considered as ending at Celilo, about 150 
nules from the mouth. As a matter of fact, salmon fishing for market 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 75 

or for home use is carried on to a considerable extent along the main 
river and also on the Snake and the Yakima, tributaries of the 
Columbia. In nearly all cases hook and Une and spears are used 
alone, but on the Snake River, near Lewiston, in Idaho, are several 
rather important haul-seine fisheries. Fishing is carried on at these 
places in the spring for steelhead trout and in the fall for chinook and 
silver salmon and steelhead trout. As many as 25 salmon have been 
taken at one time. While this may seem a small number to one 
habituated to the large catches farther down the river, in the aggre- 
gate it amomits to a considerable quantity. 

Considerable local fishing is carried on along the various Oregon 
streams above the sections usually fished by commercial fishermen. 
Most of this is done by ranchers living along the streams, and while 
by far the greater part is for home consumption a small proportion 
is sold. 

On the Yukon River and its tributaries considerable salmon fishing 
is prosecuted. Much of this is done by natives for the use of them- 
selves and their dogs, but at places white fishermen operate for a 
portion of the year and sell their catches in near-by settlements or at 
the mining camps. No effort has eVer been made to secure statistics 
of the extent of this fishery. 

APPARATUS AND METHODS OF THE FISHERIES. 

GILL NETS. 

The gill net is the oldest and most popular form of apparatus in 
use in the salmon fisheries of the Pacific coast. There are two kinds, 
drift and set, these names clearly expressing the difference between 
them. Fine flax or linen twine is generally used in their manufac- 
ture, although in some places cotton twine is employed, and it has 
usually 12 threads and is laid slack. They are hung in the ordinary 
manner — to a rope with cork floats to support the upper portion of the 
gear, and to a line with lead sinkers attached, which keeps the net 
vertical in the water and all its meshes properly distended. The 
nets are tanned, usually several times each season. 

Drift nets vary greatly in length and depth, depending upon the 
width of the fishing channels, the depth of water, etc. On the Sac- 
ramento River they average about 300 fathoms in length, are 45 
meshes deep, and have a stretch mesh of from 7\ to 9 1 inches. On 
the coastal rivers of Oregon these nets average about 125 fathoms in 
length, and are about 36 meshes in depth, the mesli varying with 
the species of salmon sought. On the Columbia River the nets aver- 
age about 250 fathoms in length and have a stretch mesh for 
chinooks of 9 to 9 ^ inches. On the Willamette River, the principal 
tributary of the Columbia, they average about 75 fathoms in length, 
with meshes of 8 and 9§ inches. On Willapa Harbor di'ift gill nets 
run from 100 to 250 fathoms in length, are 30 meshes deep, with 
stretch meshes of 7 and 8§ inches. On Grays Harbor they average 
100 fathoms in length, the chinook nets run from 24 to 45 meshes m 
depth, with a stretch mesh of 9 inches, while the silver or coho nets 
are 35 meshes in depth, with a stretch mesh of 7 inches. In northern 
British Columbia the nets average 150 fathoms in length with a 
stretch mesh of 5| inches. In the Puget Sound region the nets 



76 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

average 300 fathoms in length, with meshes suitable for the particular 
species sought. In Alaskan waters the nets vary greatly in length 
and depth, depending upon the places where fished. 

Drift gill netting is prosecuted chiefly in the estuaries of the 
rivers in and near the channels. If the water is clear the nets are 
set only at ni^ht, but should the water be muddy or discolored with 
glacial silt, fishing can be carried on either night or day. Night fish- 
ing is most common in the States, while day fishing is most common 
in Alaska. When fishing in rivers, it is necessary to work in a straight 
stretch of water of fairly uniform depth and free from snags or sharp 
ledges, these being called "reaches." 

In setting the net the boat puller rows slowly across the stream 
while the otlier man pays out the apparatus, to the first end of which 
a buoy has been attached. Wlien about two-thirds of the gear is 
out, the boat is turned downstream at nearly right angles to her 
former course, so that the net, when set, approximates the shape of 
the letter L. The net is laid out at nearly right angles or diagonally 
to the river's course, so that it will intercept the salmon that are 
running in, and is usually put out about an hour before hi^h-water 
slack and taken in about an hour after the turn of the tide. In 
Alaska the fishermen usually fish on both the high and low slack. 
The nets are allowed to driift for the time specified, the fishermen 
drifting along at one end, then the net is hauled into the boat over 
a wooden roller fixed in the stern, and the fish, which have become 

filled in the meshes, are removed, stunned or killed by a blow on the 
ead, and thrown into the bottom of the boat. 

Set gill nets are made in the same way as drift nets, in many in- 
stances being fragments of the latter, and are usually operated in the 
upper reaches of the rivers. They vary in length from 10 to 100 
fathoms, from 35 to 65 meshes in depth, and have the same sizes of 
meshes as the drift nets, the size varying, of course, with the species 
sought for. Sometimes these nets are staked, sometimes anchored, 
while occasionally only one end is tied to the shore or a stake set in 
the water. 

On the flats off the mouth of the Stikine River, in southeast Alaska, 
a combination of the drift and set method is followed. A double set 
of stakes, about 6 feet apart, are set out from the shore for a distance 
of several hundred yards. An hour or two before slack water the 
fishermen pay out the net parallel to the line of stakes and about 50 
feet from them. The tide drifts the net down until it is caught 
against the stakes, which retain it until slack water, when the fisher- 
man takes it up and repeats from the opposite direction on the next 
turn of the tide. 

HADX SEINES. 

On the Columbia River, where this form of apparatus plays a 
prominent part in the fisheries, the nets vary in length from 100 to 
400 fathoms; the shallowest end is from 35 to 40 meshes deep, but it 
rapidly increases in width and is from 120 to 140 meshes deep at the 
otlier wing.. The "bunt," or bag. in the central part of the net is 
about 50 fathoms long. These nets are usually hauled on the numer- 
ous sand bars which are a very noticeable feature of the river at low 
tide. Buildings are erected on piles on these sand flats, in which the 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. R.— COLUMBIA RIVER POWER GILL NET BOAT. 




FIG. 9.— REMOVING THE SALMON FROM A GILL NET. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 11.— DIPPING SALMON FROM THE COPPER RIVER, ALASKA. 




FIG. 12.— FISH WHEEL, YUKON RIVER, ALASKA. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 13.— A SCOW LOAD OF SALMON. 




FIG. 14.— PURSE SEINE CREW DELIVERING FISH TO CANNERY TENDER. 



PACIFIC SALIMON FTSHEKIES. 77 

men and horses take rcfuo;e at I'l^j^h tide, when the hars are covered 

with water. Operations hegin as soon as tlie l^each or har uncovers, 

so that the men can wade ahoiit. The net is placed in a lar^e seine 

hoat. vnth the shore end attached to a dory. At the sic^nal the seine 

boat is headed offshore, while the dory heads toward the bar._ As the 

seine boat circles around against the cm-rent tlie net is paid out in 

the shape of a semicircle. The dory men hurry to the bar with the 

shore end of the net, the idea being to get that in as soon aspossible 

in order to prevent the escape of the salmon in that direction. As 

soon as this has been accomplished, tlie outer shore line is brouglit to 

the bar, when several horses are liitched to the line and begin to haul 

in the net, care l^eing taken by the men to work it against the current 

as much as practicable, and to get it in as speedily as they can in 

order to prevent the escape of salmon either by jumping over the 

cork Hne or finding some outlet below the footrope or lead line. 

Tlie only other place on the coast where haul seines are important 

is at Kariuk, on Kodiak Island, in Alaska. Here the seines are 

hauled upon the narrow gi-avel spit dividing the lagoon from the strait, 

and practically the same method is followed as in the Columbia 

River. 

DIVER NETS. 

These are in use in the Columbia River, mainly throughout the 
middle and upper portions of the river. They vary from 100 to 200 
fathoms in length and are used almost exclusively for chinook salmon. 
In construction they somewhat resemble a trammel net. Two nets are 
attached together side by side. The outer one, or the one toward the 
oncoming fish, has a larger mesh than the other, so that if the fish 
manages to pass tlirough the first, it will be caught in the smaller 
meshes of the second. 

DIP NETS. 

These consist of an iron hoop secured to the end of a stout pole 
with a bag-shaped net fastened to the hoop. They are generally used 
at the cascades on the rivers, small platforms being erected upon 
which the operator stands while fishing. Indians formerly used them 
to a large extent, but, owing to the steady decline in the number of 
Indians, and the appropriation of favorable spots by the whites for 
other forms of apparatus, they are but little used now. 

SQUAW NETS. 

This type is virtually a set net. It consists of an oblong sheet of 
gill netting, about 12 feet long and 8 feet deep, its lower edge weighted 
to keep it down, and its upper edge attached to a pole that floats at 
the surface, and is held by a line or lines to another projecting pole 
which is securely fastened to the shore, so that it will not sv/ing around 
with the strain of the swift current on the net. A single block is 
attached to the pole, and through this passes a rope, thus making a 
tackle for the more convenient manipulation of the net. The dip-net 
fishermen of the Columbia River use this net, which derives its name 
from the fact that it used to be commonly operated by Indian squaws 
for taking salmon. But few are now in use, for the same reasons as 
given for the decline in the use of dip nets. 



78 U. S. BUEEAU OF FISHEKIES. 

PURSE SEINES. 

This form of apparatus is in quite general use in Puget Sound and 
southeast Alaska, and has proved highly effective in these deep, swift 
waters. These seines are about 200 fathoms long, 25 fathoms in the 
bunt, and 20 fathoms in the wings, all with a 3f-inch stretch mesh. 
The foot line is heavily leaded and the bridles are about 10 feet long. 
The purse line is made of l§-inch hemp. The rings through which 
the purse line is rove measure about 5 inches in diameter and are 
made of galvanized iron. 

Purse seining for salmon in Puget Sound and waters north of same 
is one of the most important methods in use in the fisheries. In the 
type of vessel used in this fishery there has probably been greater 
improvement than in any other branch of the fisheries of the coast. 
In the early days row scows were in use, but now vessels with power 
are used. 

In 1903 the first gasoline-powered purse seine boat appeared on the 
Pacific coast salmon fishing grounds in Puget Sound. The vessel was 
named the Pioneer and she was equipped with a 5-horsepower engine. 
The first season she easily demonstrated her vast superiority over 
the other purse seiners m the quickness with which she could reach 
a school 01 fish after it was sighted and in surrounding it with her 
seine. The next year there were a few more built or equipped, and 
the number has steadily increased until at the present time practi- 
cally all except a few in southeast Alaska are equipped with motor 
engines. 

The first power seine boats were only about 30 feet in length and 
had small power. As they were few in numbers, there was virtually 
no competition, and high power and speed were not a necessity. As 
the boats increased in numbers, however, competition became keener, 
and the first types of boats with their small power were quickly 
thi'own into the shade by the newer types, whicii averaged between 
45 and 55 feet in length, with 45 to 75 horsepower engines. 

When motive power was introduced in the vessels, it was natural 
that the fishermen should soon introduce winches for the purpose 
of hauling in the nets, as the whole work could then be done by the 
one engine. 

The purse seine vessels are built with rounded sterns. On an 
elevated section of the stern is set a movable platform on a pivot. 
The after end of this platform has a long roller. The purse seine 
is stowed on this platform, the head rope with corks on one side 
and the foot line on the other, so that there will be no tangling when 
the seine is paid out. 

When the lookout sights a school of fish, the seiner is run down 
close to it and a rowboat launched. One man takes his place in 
this with the rope from one end of the seine and acts as a pivot, 
while the seiner circles around the school, the crew paying out the 
seine as she moves along. When it is all out, the vessel runs along- 
side the rowboat and takes aboard the other rope. Attaching this 
and the rope from the other end to the power winch, the circle around 
the fish is rapidly narrowed, and the slack of the seine as it comes in 
is stowed back on the platform. Around the bottom of the seine 
and through galvanized-iron rings about 5 inches in diameter runs 
the purse line. As this is hauled into the boat, the open space at 



U. S. B. F. — Doc. 902. 



-"y 



^x AX. 



/ 



A ■^-T, 

J'-rs -viV ^^' 

/ 



y 




\ 



/ 






^ " >v 






FIG. 15.— FLOATING TRAP. 




FIG. 16.— PURSE SEINER HAULING IN NET. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 17.— DIPPING SALMON FROM A PURSE SEINE. 




FIG. 18.— BRAILING SALMON FROM A TRAP. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 79 

the bottom is rapirlly closed up just as a handbag would be through 
the drawing together of the pursing string at the top. During this 
operation the nonpower purse seiners have a man standing alongside 
the rail who throws a pole into the center in order to drive the fish 
away from the open section. He is so skillful in this work that 
almost invariably the pole comes back to his hand as the pressure 
of the waters forces it up again. When the bottom has been pursed 
up the fishermen hauling by hand can move more leisurely, but with 
the power winches in use the hauling in of the net is a comparatively 
easy matter, and the pole thrower is dispensed with. 

When all the fish are in the bunt and the latter alongside, the fish 
are generally dipped out by means of a dip net balanced on the end 
of a tackle. A fisherman lowers it into the seine, scoops up a load 
of salmon, and as the net is hauled up guides it over the vessel, and 
then trips it and dumps the fish into the hold. 

The ruget Sound purse seiners meet the salmon oflf the entrance 
to the Strait of San Juan de Fuca and follow the sockeyes till they 
have passed out of American waters, what are known as the Salmon 
Banks, off the lower end of San Juan Island, being the principal 
rendezvous during the run of sockeyes. After this run is over they 

to up the Sound and fish for dogs and cohos, and later go to the 
ead of the Sound and fish for dogs, cohos, chinooks, and steel- 
head trout. In southeast Alaska they follow the fish all over the 
bays, straits, and sounds of that section. Purse seines are used in 
a few other places, but the fishery is secondary to those with other 
forms of apparatus. 

This style of fishing is said to have been introduced on Puget 
Sound by the Chinese m 1886. 

TRAPS OR POUND NETS. 

A trap is stationary and consists of webbing, or part webbing and 
part wire netting, held in place and position by diiven piles. Tliis 
piling usually is held together above water by a contmuous line 
of wood stringers, also used to fasten webbing to or to walk on if 
necessary. 

In building, the "lead" is first constructed. This runs at right 
angles, or very nearly so, to the shore, and consists of a straight 
line of stakes, to which wire or net webbing is hung from top of 
high water, or a little higher, to the bottom, making a straight, 
solid wall. 

At a little distance inshore of the outer end of the lead begin what 
are called the "hearts." These are V-shaped and turned toward the 
lead, beginning at a distance of 30 to 40 leet on either side of same 
and running in the same general direction, the "big heart" or outer 
heart first, the inner heart, supplementing the first, being smaller, 
and the end of the outer heart leading into it. Some traps have 
only one heart. The narrow end of the inner heart leads into the 
"pot" and forms what is known as the "tunnel." The tunnel ends 
in a long and narrow opening, running up and down the long way, 
and is held in position by ropes and rods. Below this is what is 
known as the "apron," a sheet of web stretched from the bottom of 
the heart upward to the pot, in order to lead the fish into the tunnel 
when swimming low in the water, and to obviate the necessity of 



so U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

building the pot clear to the bottom, which would be expensive, as 
the pots of the traps are usually in quite deep water. If the trap ia 
intended to catch the fish coming from only one direction, the lead 
generally runs to and is attached to one side of the entrance to tho 
outer heart on the side opposite to that from which the fish are 
expected. 

Some traps have "jiggers" (a hook-shaped extension of the outer 
heart) on each side, and sometimes on only one side, which help 
to turn the fish in the required direction. 

The "pot" is built out beyond the inner heart and immediately 
adjoining same. It is a square compartment, with web walls and 
bottom connected in the shape of a large square sack, fastened to 
piUng on all sides. This pot is hauled up and down by means of 
ropes and tackles, either by hand or, as is most popular, by steam. 

The "spiller" is another square compartment adjoining either end' 
of the pot (sometimes there are two spillers, one at each end), and is 
simply a container for fish. A small tunnel leads the fisl from the 
pot into the spiller, whence the fishermen lift them out. This is 
accomplished by closing the tunnel from the pot, after which the 
ropes holding the front of the spiller are loosened and the net wall 
allowed to drop almost to the level of the water. A steam or gasoline 
tug then pushes a scow alongside the spiller and takes position on the 
outside of this scow. From the deck of the tug a derrick is rigged ' 
with a running line from the steam capstan through the bl^ck at the 
top of the derrick. This line is attached to the far end of a net apron, 
called a "brailer," which is heavily weighted by having chains along 
each side and leaded crossways at several places. A small boat is 
run inside the spiller, and the men in this draw the brailer across the 
barge and let it sink in the spiller. The fish soon gather over it, 
when the steam capstan quickly reels it in, the net foldir ^ ^'^♦^^ ''° 

drawn in from its far side and spilling the fish out on the s- ^ ^ 

on the scow pick out and throw overboard the undesirabL j^7^'^ ^p~l . 
apron is then drawn back across the pot and the opera!' 'J^^Tf!^ 
so long as any fish remain. In this manner a trap with x.'li.y'l'J'^L^ 
of salmon in it is quickly emptied. 

Traps, like nearly all other fixed fishing appliances, aii i>uilt on 
the theory that salmon, like most other fishes, have a te 'lency to 
follow a given course in the water, whether a natural she i line or 
an artificial obstruction resembling one ; also that the fish vv y seldom 
turns in its own wake. The trap has taken advantage of tb*^ -e natural 
tendencies of the fish, and is arranged so that, although iae salmon 
may turn, he will continually be led by the wall of net toward and 
into the trap. 

If a trap is located in a place where fish play and where an eddy 
exists, and the fish run , one way with the incoming tid^ and the 
opposite with the outgoing, it vnW fish from both directions ; if located 
where the fish simply pass by, as for instance, on a point or reef, it 
will fish from one side only. 

A variation of the trap, to be used in places where piles can not be 
driven, is the floating trap. An experimental trap of this variety 
was used at Uganuk, on Kodiak Island, Alaska, as early as 1896. 
Its use was abandoned in 1897, not to be resumed until some years 
later. A number of floating traps (of the type invented by J. R. 
Heckman, of Ketchikan, Alaska) have been and are being used in 



U. S. B. F. — Doc. 902. 




FIG. 19.— R\CKS AND RUNWAYS FROM WHICH INDIANS GAFF SALMON, CHILKOOT 

RIVER, ALASKA. 




FIG. 20.— THE POT AND SPILLER OF A SALMON TRAP. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 21.— TROLLING FOR SALMON ON PUGET SOUND WITH POWER BOATS. 




FIG. 22.— PUGET SOUND PURSE SEINE BOATS AT .RICHARDSON, WASH. 



PACIFIC SALMON" FISHERIES. 81 

southoast Alaska, the first having been installed in 1907. The design 
of this trap follows the shape of an ordinary Puget Sound driven trap. 
It is constructed of logs, 20 to 26 inches at the butt, bolted and 
braced together in one solid frame. Suspended from this frame 
through the logs are 2i-inch pipes extending down in the water 30 
feet. Halfway down these pipes and also on the extr.^me lower ends 
are eyebolts, to which the web is dra^wTi down and fastened. Thus 
the web is kept in place as well as if the pipes were driven piles. The 
lead is also a continuation of large piles or logs bolted firmly together 
with similarly suspended pipes and webbing. 

The so-called wooden traps on the Columbia Riv«r are essentially 
weirs, being a modification of the brush weirs or traps used by the 
Indians for the capture of salmon long before the advent of the wliite 
men. They are built on shore, of piling and planks, the latter 
arranged like slats with spaces between. The bowl, or pot, is pro- 
vided wdth a movable trapdoor that can be opened during the closed 
season and on Sundays, so that the fish can pass through and run 
upstream. These weirs, after being built, are launched into the 
river, placed in proper position near the shore, and then ballasted 
so that they sink to the bottom. 

According to Collins," "pound nets were introduced on the Colum- 
bia River in 1879. In May of that year O. P. Graham, formerly of 
Green Bay, Wis., built a pound net on the river similai' to those used 
on the Great Lakes. The success of this venture led to the employ- 
ment of more apparatus of this kind, and many fishermen went 
West to participate in the fishery." 

The first trap on Puget Sound, it is said, was built by John 
Waller, about 1880, off Cannery Point, at the southeastern corner of 
Point Roberts. 

According to Collins,^ H. B. Klrby, who had previously fished on 
the Great Lakes, set a pound net in Puget Sound about 1883, but it was 
a complete failure. This was set off Point Roberts, near where the 
Waller trap was set. On March 15, 1888, he again set a pound net, 
which he had designed to meet the new conditions, at Birch Bay 
Head, in the Gulf of Georgia. It proved a complete success, and 
was the forermmer of the present large number which are set annually 
in these waters. 

In Alaska the first trap was set in Cook Inlet about 1885. British 
Columbia refused to permit the use of pound nets in its waters until 
1904, when their use was allowed within certain limited regions. 

Some of these traps, especially on Puget Sound, have proved 
extremely valuable. The years 1898 and 1899 covered practically 
the high-water mark, as several desirable locations changed hands in 
those years at prices ranging from $20,000 to S90,000 for single 
traps, the original expense of which did not exceed S5,000. But 
few have brought such high prices since, however, owing to the decline 
in the run of salmon, and at the present time but few of them would 
fetch much at a sale. 

The location of sites for these nets is regulated by law in Oregon, 
Washington, and British Columbia, but ui Alaska the procedure is 

a Report on the Fisheries of the Pacific Coasl of tlie United States. By J. W. Collins. Keport, U. S. 
Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries, 1888-S9, p. 210. Washington, 1892. 
6 Collins: Op. cit., p. 257. 

11312°— 21 6 



82 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

not well defined and has proved rather confusing to strangers. 
Some acquh'c the shore line by mineral location or by the use of scrip, 
while still others have merely a squatter's ri^ht. 

Under the existing fish<-trap laws applicable to Alaska, a fish trap 
m.ay be operated anywhere along the coast of Alaska, 3(0 yards 
from the mouth of any salmon stream, and along the shoie of all 
rivers — excepting those emptying into Cook Inlet, the streams on 
Afognak Island, and in Wood River — where the same are at least 500 
feet wide. 

A clear water distance of 600 yards laterally and 100 yards end- 
wise must be maintained between all traps. At the present time 
there is no law regulating the length of leads, the maximum depth 
of water in which the pot may be driven, or the use or occupancy of 
the trap sites. 

It has been decided by the highest courts within the past year that 
title to the upland conveys no title to the trap owner who may be in 
front. The tidelands oi Alaska are not of sufficient commercial 
importance as yet to enter into this controversy. At the present 
time there is no tideland law applicable to Alaska affecting the 
upland owners or the trap-site locators. 

At the present time the canner who is on the ground first with 
piles and a driver can assert his right to any unoccupied trap site 
regardless of who fished it the previous season. This, however, is the 
exception rather than the rule. As a general proposition the can- 
ners respect the rights of rivals in the same fishing region, and a 
trap location once recognized as that of a certain individual or com- 
pany is rarely jumped so long as the original locator cares to main- 
tain a trap on it. 

Within the bounds of the forest reserve no land can be acquired 
except by lease, which may be secured from the United States for- 
estry agent, Ketchikan, Alaska. 

INDIAN TRAPS. 

The natives, especially in Alaska, have various ingenious methods 
of catching salmon. In the Bering Sea rivers they catch them by 
means of wickerwork traps, made somewhat after the general style 
of a fyke net. These are composed of a series of cylindrical and 
conical baskets, fitting into each other, with a small opening in the 
end connecting one with the other and the series terminating in a 
tube with a removable bottom, through which the captive fish are 
extracted. Some of the baskets are from 15 to 25 feet in length 
and are secured with stakes driven into the river bottom, while the 
leader, composed of square sections of wickerwork, is held in place 
by stakes. 

During the summer of 1910 the author found and destroyed an 
mgenious native trap set in Tamgas stream, Annette Island, south- 
east Alaska. This stream is a short and narrow one, draining a 
lake, about midway of which are a succession of cascades. In the 
narrowest part of the latter, and in the part up which the fish swim, 
a rack had been constructed of poles driven into the bottom and cov- 
ered with wire netting, so as almost wholly to prevent salmon from 
passing up. Just below, and running parallel to the rack and at 
right angles to the shore, was placed a box flume with a flaring 
mouth at the outer end. At the shore end the flume turned sharply 



11 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 23.— A COLUMBIA RIVER SCOW FISH WHEEL. 




FIG. 24.— PUGET SOUND SALMON TRAP. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 25.— A COLUMBIA RIVER STATIONARY FISH WHEEL. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 83 

at right angles and discharged into a square box with slat bottom 
and covered over with boughs. The fish in ascending the stream 
would be stopped by the rack and in swimming around many of them 
would be carried by the current into and down the flume, eventually 
landhig in the receiving box alongside the shore. 

WHEELS. 

Fish wheels are of two kinds, the floating or scow wheel, which 
can be moved from point to point if need be, and the shore wheel, 
which is a fixed apparatus. They operate in exactly the same man- 
ner, however. The stationary wneel is located along the shore in a 
place where experience has shown that the salmon pass. Here an 
abutment is built of wood and stone, high enough to protect it from 
an ordinary rise in the river. To this is attached the necessary 
framework for holding the wheel. The latter is composed of three 
large scoop-shaped dip nets made of galvanized-iron wire netting 
with a mesh of 3^ to 4 inches. These nets are the buckets of the 
wheel and they are so arranged on a horizontal axis that the wheel 
is kept in constant motion by the current, and thus picks up any 
fish which come within its sweep. The nets are fixed at such an 
angle that as they revolve their contents fall into a box chute through 
which the fish slide into a large bin on the shore. The wheels range 
in size from 9 to 32 feet in diameter and from 5 to 15 feet in width, 
and cost from $1,500 to $8,000, the average being about $4,000. A 
number of them have long leaders of piling running out into the 
river, which aid in leading the salmon into the range of the wheel. 

The scow wheel consists of a largo square-ended scow that is 
usually decked at one end and open at the other. Several stanchions, 
some 8 to 10 feet high, support a framework upon which an awning 
is spread to protect the fish from the sun's rays and the crew from 
the elements. To one end of the scow are fastened two upright posts, 
which are guyed by wooden supports, while projecting from the same 
end is the framework which supports the wheel, the latter being con- 
structed in the same way as the stationary wheel, but on a smaller 
scale. In operation the scow is anchored with the wheel end pointing 
downstream, and as the wheel is revolved by the current, the fish 
caught fall from the net into a box chute, through which they slide 
into the scow. As stationary wheels can be used only at certain 
stages of water, the scow wheel is a necessary substitute to be used 
at such times as the former can not be operated, or in places where 
it is not feasible to build a stationary wheel. 

The above forms of wheels are used exclusively on the Columbia 
River. 

An ingenious device is used by some of the wheel operators on the 
Columbia River in getting their catch to the canneries, a few miles 
farther down the river. The salmon are tied together in bunches, 
which are attached to air-tight casks and sent down the stream. At 
the canneries small balconies have been constructed at the water end 
of the building. A man armed with a pair of field glasses is stationed 
here, and as soon as ho sights one of these casks he notifies a boatman 
who goes out and tows in the cask and salmon. About 800 pounds of 
salmon are attached to a keg, and a tag showing the wheel from 
which shipped, is tied to the fish. 



84 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

In 1908 the first fish wheel to be located in the coastal waters of 
Alaska was operated in the Takii River, in southeast Alaska. The 
wheel was set between two 4-foot scows, stationed parallel to each 
other, and each 40 feet in length. The wheel had two dips, each 22 
feet in width and hung with netting. It could be moved from place to 
place, the same as the scow wheels on the Columbia River. It was 
operated throughout the king and red salmon runs, but caught almost 
no salmon, and was not set in the succeeding years. 

For many years the natives of the interior of Alaska have been 
resorting to the banks of the Yukon and Kuskokwim Rivers and their 
tributaries in order to secure a sufficient supply of salmon to sustain 
them through the succeeding winter. The favorite apparatus of these 
natives at present is a type of fish wheel introduced by the whites 
about 1.905. An oblong framework of timbers is constructed in the 
water and moored to the bank by ropes. A wheel, composed of two 
or three dips, is placed in this, the axle resting upon the framework. 
The current catches each dip in turn, thus causing the wheel to 
revolve, and the dip is of such shape that the salmon caught roll off 
it into a trough, down which they slide into a boat moored between 
the wheel and the shore or into a box fixed to the supporting frame- 
work on the side. Although crude in construction, these wheels are 
very effective and a large number of them are set each season. 

The Columbia River fish wheel is a patented device. It was first 
used by the patentees, S. W. Williams & Bro., in 1879, and for 
several years they retained a monopoly in its use. A number are 
now operating on the river. The device was not new even when 
patented, as a similar "fishing machine," as it is called, had been in 
use prior to this time and is still used by white fishermen on the 
Roanoke River in North Carolina, 

REEF NETS. 

When the whites first visited the Northwest they found the natives 
employing a number of ingenious devices for catching salmon, and 
one of the most effective of these was the reof net. J. A. Kerr, Esq.,'' 
who has been engaged in the salmon fisheries of Puget Sound for a 
number of years, has written the following very interesting account 
of this native fishery: 

The aborigines the world over have developed ingenuity solely along the lines of 
their necessities. The coast Indians of Alaska evolved the bidarky and the ingenious 
implements for taking the seal, the walrus, and the whale. The Siwash of Puget 
Sound developed a seaworthy dugout and appliances for taking salmon that marks 
the acme of Indian invention. 

When Vancouver explored the waters of the Sound he found over 500 Indians en- 
camped at Chiltenum, now Point Roberts. He relates in his log of the voyage that 
these Indians were engaged ' ' in fishing for salmon with crude nets made of the bark of 
young willow." He described the racks upon the contiguous upland used by the 
Indians in curing the fish. 

When Gov. Stevens negotiated the treaty with the Indians of the lower Sound at 
Point Elliott, now MukHteo, in 1855, I was informed by Col. Shaw, the interpreter, 
that over 7,000 Indians attended, the session lasting for five days. 

The Government sought to have the Indians confined to reservations, and the dis- 
position of their ancient fisheries was a matter of great solicitude on their part. 
Salmon was the principal article of their diet. 

After protracted discussion the sixth clause of the treaty was made to provide 
that "the right to take fish at their usual and accustomed fishing grounds, together 
with the right to erect and maintain racks upon the contiguous upland for curing and 
drying the same, is hereby forever guaranteed to said Indians. " 

o The Siwash Reef Net. By J. A. Kerr. Pacific Fisherman Yearbook, 1917, p. 60. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHEEIES. 85 

There were two of those ancient fisheries on the lower Sound — Point Roberts Reef 
and Village Point. 

The original reef net of the Indians, as described by the first white settlers and by 
the Indians themselves, was constructed as follows: 

The natives peeled the bark from the willow and with it spun a twine and tied a net 
about 25 feet in width and 40 feet in length, with a mesh substantially of the dimen- 
sions and shape of that used in the now familiar pound net. 

They then went into the swamps and cut cedar withes. After heating rocks and 
placing them in pools of water thej' steamed these withes, after which they twisted 
them into substantial ropes. 

Their reef net operations were confined to the shoal waters over the reefs. The reef 
net locations were of great value to the Indians, and were considered as property and 
handed down from father to son. As a rule the Indian families controlling these loca- 
tions owned an inner and outer location. The reef at Point Roberts is over 1 mile in 
length . 

Reef net fishing was confined to the flood tide. At the beginning of the flood the 
outer location was used, after the middle of the flood the nets were shifted to the inner 
locations. 

The Indians assembled at the reefs in advance of the salmon run and prepared their 
appliances. 

They first secured heavy boulders or blocks of sandstone from Chuckanut to be used 
as anchors. They then procured for each net two logs about the length of their canoes. 
To each end of these logs they tied one of their ropes, about 100 feet in length, the 
other end of which was fastened to the stone anchor. These logs were anchored over 
the top of the reef and about 20 feet apart. From the forward end of these logs there 
was run out at an angle of 45° other ropes to a distance of 50 feet, the outward end 
fastened to a buoy. To these ropes were fastened stalks of kelp, the ends weighted 
to the bottom with stones. Thus was constructed a lead operating to concentrate the 
approaching school of fish between the logs. Then from the front end of these logs 
there was dropped forward and to the bottom two ropes, from one of these ropes to the 
other, at intervals of 2 or 3 feet, were fastened cords of willow twine. This appliance 
was called by the Indians a ladder. 

Now in operating the net itself two canoes were lashed on the inside of the logs. 
Three Indians occupied one canoe and four the other. The net was then suspended 
between the canoes. The Indians in the forward end of the canoes held the ropes 
fastened to the bottom of the net, those in the back end held the ropes fastened to the 
top of the net. The tide running against the net caused it to bag, or piurse. The 
fourth Indian in one of the canoes was generally an elderly man and was called the 
watcher. He discovered the school of salmon as they were carried into the net and 
at his signal the Indians at the front of the canoes pulled the lower edge of the net, 
which was kept within 4 feet of the surface, above the water. The Indians at the 
middle of the canoe reached down and caught the sides of the net, lifting the sides 
above the sxirface. These Indians pulled against each other, the long ropes by which 
the logs were moored giving enough to allow the canoes to be pulled alongside each 
other. The fish were then dumped into one of the canoes, after which the net was 
loosened and lowered, and the boats fell back to their original position again. With 
these appliances the Indians would take up to 3,000 salmon on a single run of the tide. 

This Indian appliance affords not only an interesting illustration of native ingenuity, 
but as a matter of fact was the forerunner of the pound net. John Waller, a Welshman, 
was one of the earliest settlers at Point Roberts. He observed the operations of the 
reef net and in the early 60's constructed at Point Roberts the first pound net ever 
driven on the Pacific coast. The leads duplicated that of the Indians, while he 
impounded the salmon by means of the tunnel leading into a web pot, instead of 
lifting them as impounded. 

The reef net marks the humble Siwash as an inventor of some skill, and as a bene- 
factor of some importance, and the apparatus would be in use to-day were it not for 
the large number of people required to operate it. 

At one time this was a favorite device of the Puget Sound natives 
for catching sockeye salmon. Owing to the large number of men 
required to work them, and the fact that they can be worked only 
at certain stages of tide and in favorable weather, these nets gradually 
have been supplanted by other devices. In 1909 but five were used, 
and these were operated off the shores of San Juan, Henry, Steuart, 
and Lummi Islands, and in the vicinity of Point Roberts. Practically 
none are uaed at present. 



86 IT. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

TROLLING. 

Each year the catching of sahnon by trolling becomes of increasing 
importance commercially. Although begun a number of years ago 
the industry never attained prominence until the mild curers created 
such a persistent and profitable demand for king, or chinook, salmon 
that the fishermen, who had previously restricted their operations 
mainly to the use of nets durmg the annual spawning runs, which 
last but a small portion of the year, began to follow up the fish both 
before and after the spawning run and soon discovered that they 
were to be found in certain regions throughout nearly every month 
in the year. 

Trolling has several advantages from the fisherman's point of view 
over seine, gill net, and trap fishing. To engage in it, one does not 
need any very expensive gear, a boat, hooks, and lines being all that 
are required. Then, there are no licenses to pay and no seasons to 
observe in many sections, as the fishing is done in many instances be- 
yond the jurisdiction cf State waters. 

The fishermen comprise all nationalities. While the majority of 
them are professionals, men of all walks of life are to be found en- 
gaging in the business, some on account of their health, others because 
of reverses in business or lack of work, while still others engage in it 
from pure love of the outdoor life. 

The Monterey Bay (Calif.) trollers use 48 cotton line generally. A 
few inches below the main lead an additional line is added, with a 
small sinker on it. This gives two lines and hooks, and as the main 
line has but the one lead, and that above the junction with the branch 
line, it floats somewhat above the latter, which is weighted down 
with a sinker. The main stem is about 20 fathoms in length, while 
the bra,nch lines are about 5 fathoms each. These lines cost about 
$3.50 each. No spoon is used, but bait almost invariably. A few 
fishermen use a spread of stout steel wire, 4 feet long, with 5 or 6 feet 
of line on each end of the spread, two lines and hooks. 

On the upper Sacramento River (mainl}^ at Redding and Keswick) 
some fishing is done with hand lines. A small catch was made here 
m 1908, but none were so caught in 1909. 

Even as early as 1895 trolling was carried on in the Siuslaw River, 
Oreg., for chinook and silver salmon. 

About 1912 the fishermen living along the lower Columbia River 
discovered that salmon could be taken by trolling ofl' the bar. A 
number of them went into the business regularly, while their numbers 
were greatly swelled by the addition of many of the net fishermen 
during the regular closed seasons on the river, these not applving to 
trollers. Some idea of the growth of this fishery off the Columbia 
River bar may be gained when it is stated that in September, 1915, 
about 500 boats were engaged in it. It is reported that in 1919 over 
1,000 boats were engaged m trolling here. 

At Oregon City and other places on the Willamette River a num- 
ber of chinook salmon are caught by means of trolling each year, 
mainly by sportsmen. A spoon is quite generally employed in place 
of bait. The fishermen claim that the salmon are not feeding at 
this time, as their stomachs are shriveled up. 

For a number of years the Indians living at the reservation on 
Neah Bay, Wash., have annually caught large numbers of silver and 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 87 

chinook salmon in the Strait of Juan de Fuca. A large number of 
white fishermen also en^rage in this fishery at the present time in the 
same waters, while others troll for the same species, hut more par- 
ticularly silvers, in parts of Puget Sound proper. The ordinary 
trolling line, with a spoon instead of bait, is used. 

Many of the trollers use power boats, and in this event four and 
sometimes six lines are used. One and sometimes two short poles 
are run out from each side of the boat (when two are used on a side, 
one is shorter than the other), the butt being dropped into a chock. 
Two lines are generally trailed from the stern. At the end of each 

Eole is a very short line with a small tin can attached. A few peb- 
les are in the can, and as the launch moves slowly through the 
water with all her lines set, the troller knows when he has a bite by 
the rattling of the pebbles in the can. Each of the lines attached 
to a pole is also connected with the boat by a short line from the 
side to a point on the line about 20 feet from the tip of the latter. 
When a fish is hooked, the fisherman merely pulls in the line by 
means of the short piece and then can haul the fish in hand over 
[hand. 

The most remarka1)le trolling region is in southeast Alaska. For 
some years the Indians here nad been catching king salmon for 
their own use during the spring months, and about the middle of 
January, 1905, king salmon were noticed in large numbers in the 
vicinity of Ketchikan. Observing the Indians catching these, sev- 
eral white fishermen decided to engage in the pursuit, shipping 
the product fresh to Puget Sound ports. They met with such 
success that 271,644 pounds, valued at $15,600, were shipped. The 
next year several oi the mild-cure dealers established plants in 
this region, thus furnishing a convenient and profitable market for 
the catch, and as a result the fishery has grown until in 1915 
2,170,400 pounds of king salmon and 54,400 pounds of coho salmon 
were caught and marketed. The length of the fishing season has 
also lengthened until now the business is prosecuted vigorously 
during about seven months in the year, and m a desultory manner 
for two or three months more, ojily the severe winter weather pre- 
venting operations the rest of the year. 

In soutneast Alaska the fishermen generally use either the Hen- 
dryx Seattle trout-bait spoon No. 5 or the Hendryx Pu^et Sound 
No. 8. The former comes in nickel or brass or nickel and orass, the 
jfull nickel preferred. The Siwash hook No. 9/0, known as the Vic- 
I toria hook in British Columbia, is in quite general use. As a rule, 
ibut one hook is used, and this hangs from a ring attached to a swivel 
I just above the spoon, while the point of the hook comes a little below 
j the bottom of the spoon. Occasionally double or treble hooks are 
lused. Some fishermen use bait, and when this is done the herring, 
\ the bait almost universally employed, is so hooked through the body 
I as, when placed in the water, to stretch out almost straight and face 
! forward as in life. 

j There are a large number of power-boat trollers in this region. 

I These trollers generally use one pole on a side and one at the stern. 

i The rowboat trollers use but one line, which is attached to a thwart 

in the boat, handy to their reach when rowing, and trailing out from 

the stern of the boat. 



88 U. S. BXJREAU OF FISHEKIES. 

The trollers usually have temporary camps where they congregate 
while the hsh are to be found in that section, moving on to some more 
favorable spot when the fish begin to get scarce. 

Reports from the trollers of southeast Alaska prove that all species 
of salmon will take the hook at some time or other in the salt waters 
of this region, an examination of their stomachs generally showing 
that they are either feeding or in a condition to feed. 

A small commercial fishery is carried on in this region for coho 
salmon, mainly in August and September, in the neighborhood of 
Turnabout Island, in Frederick Sound. A Stewart spoon with two 
hooks on one ring is used, baited with herring in such a way that the 
fish is straightened out and faced toward the spoon. The sportsmen 
of Ketchikan also fish with rod and reel for this species in the neigh- 
borhood of Gravina Island, using a Hendryx spoon (kidney bait 
No. 6), which is silvery in color on one side and red on the other. 
Although much smaller than the king, the coho salmon is more gamey. 

During the latter part of March the Gulf of Georgia, in British 
Columbia, is invaded by large schools of young coho salmon, locally 
called "bluebacks." They evidently come in from the sea by way 
of the vStraits of Fuca, as their presence is at first apparent in the 
lower gulf, especially among the reefs and islands off Gabriola Pass. 
On their arrival these fish are only about a couple of pounds weight, 
but increase in size very rapidly, with correspondingly voracious 
appetites. They are to be found in the gulf throughout the spring 
and summer. By May the fish generally average close to three 
pounds each when dressed, while in July they are between four and 
six pounds in weight. 

A number of fishermen with power and row boats engage in this 
fishery, the fish being either sold to the fresh markets or to the 
canneries. 

Trolling lines and spoon baits of one form or another are used. In 
fishing from power boats the outer lines are attached to fish poles 
15 to 18 feet long, rigged out on either side. Those poles are usually 
hmged at the foot of a short mast and lowered outboard by a halyard 
running through a block at the masthead, with the additional brace 
of a forward guy, which, with the drag of the lines aft, holds them in 
position. It has been customary to use from five to seven lines from 
each launch, the two outer lines leading from the ends of the poles; 
the next pair are attached to intermediate tips fastened halfway out 
on the main pole, while inboard lines are attached to smaller upright 
rods on either quarter. 

The outer trolls are brought within reach (the poles being practically 
fixtures) by means of a short piece attached to each fishing line 15 or 
20 feet from the point where it is fastened to the pole and leading 
inboard. 

Recently, however, the Dominion authorities have decreed that a 
troUer shall not use more than three lines from a boat when trolling 
for salmon. Should a man be alone in the boat three lines wiU keep 
him very busy if the fish are biting at all well. 

Spoons are generally used. All shapes are employed, from the 
ordinary Siwash patterns to wobblers; brass or silver wobblers, of 
Nos. 4 and 5 sizes, are largely used by the fishermen. Spinners of 2 to 
3 inches long are also popular. Copper, copper and silver, and brass 



PACIFIC SALiMON FISHERIES. 89 

spinners of the Siwash and Victoria patterns are very effective, while 
red beads, feathered hooks, or a piece of silvery salmon skin placed 
on the hook as an additional bait often add to the attraction of a 
spoon. 

Quite generally the fishermen use single hooks on their spoons. 
Various lengths of line are used, but on the average about 60 feet for 
outside lines and 40 for inside are used. As fish can be landed much 
quicker with a short line, the fishermen generally shorten their lines 
to 20 or 30 feet when the fish are biting rapidly. Quite heavy lines 
are used from- the pole to the sinker; from there extends a length of 
li^ht line, and then a piece of wire, to which the spoon is attached. 
The sinker, which is usually between 2 and 3 pounds in weight when 
fishing from a power boat and about 1 pound when a rowboat is 
employed, is attached to the line about 18 feet from the spoon. 

The best fishing times are in the early morning ancf evening, 
without regard to tidal conditions. The low slack water is always 
favorable to good fishing. 

These fish are delicate flavored, but do not keep well, it being 
necessary to rush them to market if they are to be sold in a first-class 
condition. 

Considerable numbers of these fish are taken by both American and 
Canadian fishermen on Swiftsure Banks, off Cape Flattery. As 
complaint had been made in 1914 that these fish were immature and 
were unfit for canning because of their appearance after being out of 
the water some hours, H. T. Graves, acting commissioner of agri- 
culture for the State of Washington, which department is concerned 
with the wholesomeness of food products, made a thorough investiga- 
tion of their fitness for food. In a letter to the Pacific Fisherman, 
Seattle, Wash., and published in that journal under date of August, 
1914, he states, among other things, the following: 

The question, therefore, for us to determine was to ascertain their value as a food • 
product. The condition of these fish arriving at the various canneries was carefully 
noted; samples were selected for bacteriological analysis. 

The fish when fu'st taken from the water are Aery soft when compared with the 
other salmon. After they have been out of the water 12 hours the fish easily separates 
from the bony structures, and in the course of ordinary handling in the time which 
elapses between the hour of taking from the water until they are offered for packing 
at Sound canneries, which is anywhere from 12 to 48 hours, they become badly broken 
up and present a rather ugly and distasteful appearance, to say the least. 

We found that many different methods of handling were being experimented with 
by the fisherman and by Puget Sound canneries, but without any noticeable effect. 
While from a physical observation one would imagine these fish as received at the 
Sound canneries to be unwholesome, a bacteriological examination by Dr. E. P. 
Fick, State bacteriologist, indicated that putrefaction was not present, although some 
of the specimens did contain a rather high bacteria count. 

BOW AND ARROW. 

On the Tanana River, a tributary of the Yukon River, in Alaska, 
the Indians hunt salmon in birch-bark canoes with bow and arrow. 
As the canoe is paddled along and the Indian sees the dorsal fin of 
the salmon cutting the surface of the muddy water he shoots it. The 
tip of the arrow fits into a socket, and when struck the tip, wliich 
when loose is attached to the stock by a lon^ string, comes out of the 
socket and the arrow floats, easily locating the fish for the fisherman. 



90 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

SPEAR AND GAFF. 

Spears of varying shapes and styles have been in use by the Indians 
from time immemorial and are still employed on many rivers in 
which salmon run. With the exception of the Chilkoot and Chil- 
kat Rivers of Alaska, practically all of the catch secured in this 
manner is consumed by the fishermen and their families. In the 
Chilkoot River the Indians have built numerous racks in the stream 
and on the banks, upon which they stand and hook the fish out with 
a gaff attached to a pole. The catch is sold to the cannery located on 
Chilkoot Inlet. 

SPORT FISHING FOR SALMON. 

The number of sportsmen who improve the opportunity presented 
by the appearance of feeding springs and cohos is increasing yearly, 
and in time this promises to far excel the sport salmon fishing of the 
Atlantic coast. 

On Puget Sound and lower British Columbia waters the anglers 
generally use ordinary trout fishing rods and tackle, with preferably 
a short trolling tip on the rod when out for coho. Small spinners of 
silver or copper, of about an inch in length, or else the small double 
Tacoma spoons, are very good. A strong gut leader or trace of fine 
piano wire is frequently used, as the fish's teeth would cut through an 
ordinary line. Where iron wire is used the salt water rusts it rapidly, 
and unless the precaution is taken to dry off the wire and oil it after 
using it can not be used for more than a couple of days. Sinkers 
of an ounce or two in weight are generally employed with fine line. 

Many of the small spoons on the market have very cheap hooks, 
and these are apt to straighten out or break with the strain of a large 
fish. Hooks of the best steel will, however, stand up to this strain. 

One of the favorite spots for anglers is at the falls on the Willamette 
'River at Oregon City, Oreg. Another is on the Clackamas, a tribu- 
tary which debouches into the Willamette near here. When the 
spring run of salmon appears in April, hundreds of anglers, many of 
them from far distant points, appear to participate in the sport 
during this month and in May. Many noted sportsmen have fished 
for salmon at these spots. Among them was Rudyard Kipling,* and 
his experiences were woven into a classic short story. 

The fishing ground is spread over a mile's length of the river, from 
Clackamas rapids to the deadline at the falls. It is not an uncommon 
sight to see 500 boats, each containing from one to six fishermen 
and fisherwomen, dotting the river on favorable days during the 
season. 

Two methods of fishing are followed. The most popular is to 
anchor at the head of the Clackamas rapids or in swift water near 
the falls and allow the rush of water to spin the trolling hook. In 
the longer lengths of quieter water the sportsmen troll in slow motor 
boats or rowboats. 

An inexperienced boatman is apt to find fishing in the rapids or 
near the falls somewhat dangerous, as the swift water may overturn 
his craft and carry him to his death before help can reach him. 

There is a fishway in the dam, so that the fisn can pass up this and 
into the river above the dam. No fishing is allowed closer than 100 

o It was in 1889 that Kipling fished here, and his story v/as reprinted in The American Angler, Vol. II, 
No. 2, December, 1917, pp. 415-420. 



PACIFIC SALMOl? FISHERIES. 91 

feet of the mouth of this ladder. Up to 1915 there was a second 
deadline, 600 feet from the falls, beyond which no commercial fisher- 
man could operate nets, but the "Oregon 1 legislature in that year 
closed the Willamette to all net fishermen from the Clackamas rapids 
to the falls. 

The salmon in the spring nm on the Willamette will average about 
25 pounds each, but exami)les weigliing 50 pounds and over are not 
uncommon. 

In 1914 the Salmon Clnh of Oregon was formed of anglers who 
desired to encourage the use of light tackle in the taking of large game 
fish, in place of the extremely heavy tackle heretofore used. The 
foUo-v^'ing rules were adopted : 

The rods used may be made of any material except solid bamboo cane. They must 
not be less than 5 feet in length and weigh not over 6 ounces. 

The line must not be heavier than the standard nine-thread linen line. 

Any style of reel or spoon may be used and the wire leader must not exceed 3 feet 

The angler must reel in his fish, liring it to gaff unaided, and must do the gaffing 
himself. If a rod is broken at any time during the struggle with the fish it will dis- 
te[ualify the catch. 

As a reward of merit the club awards bronze buttons to all anglers 
taking, on light tackle, salmon weighing 20 j)ounds or over; for a fish 
weighing over 30 pounds a silver ])Utton is given, and for any salmon 
over 40 pounds the lucky angler receives a ^old button. Numerous 
additional prizes are also given by public-spirited citizens. 

Tne season for light taclde on the Willamette River and all other- 
inland streams of Oregon has been fixed by the clul) from January 
1 to July 1. 

In 1915 the first angler to win a gold button on the Willamette 
River did so on April 18, when he took a 42|-pound salmon. On 
the same day this same angler also won a silver button for a 32^- 
pound fish and a bronze button for a 26-pound fish. 

DANGERS TO THE INDUSTRY. 

Man is undoubtedly the greatest present menace to the perpetua- 
tion of the great sarmon fisheries of the Pacific coast. When the 
enormous number of fishermen engaged and the immense quantity 
of gear employed is considered, one sometimes wonders how any 
of the fish, in certain streams at least, escape. High water or low 
water, either of which will prevent certain forms of apparatus from 
fishing to any extent while such conditions prevail, storms which 
impede fishing, and the hundred and one small things which in 
the aggregate are of considerable importance, however, all aid in 
assisting the salmon in dodging the apparatus and reaching the 
spawning beds in safety, while, unless the stream is completely 
blocked by a tight barricade, an indeterminate number of salmon 
will escape all the pitfalls man and animals may set for them. 

In some sections an almost idt)latrous faith in the efficacv of arti- 
ficial culture of fish for replenishing the ravages of man and animals 
is manifested, and nothing has done more harm than the prevalence 
of such an idea. 

While it is an exceedingly difficult thing to prove, the concensus of 
opinion is that artificial culture does considerable good, yet the very 
fact that this can not be conclusively proven ought to be a warning 
to all concerned not to put blind faith in it alone. 



92 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

When salmon are stripped by man, the eggs fertilized and retained 
in hatcheries until the young are born, and then planted as soon as 
the yolk sac has been absorbed, it is manifest that the only saving 
over the natural method is in reducing the loss in the egg stage. 
We know that many eggs, after being deposited naturally on the 
spawning beds, are devoured by other fishes, while sudden freshets 
and occasional droughts also claim their toll of eggs. It is highly 
probable, although we have no positive data on this point, that these 
fosses far exceed those experienced in artificial salmon culture, and 
whatever this difference is it represents the extent to which salmon 
hatcheries should be credited as preservers of the industry. 

In the opinion of the author, the best way in which to conserve the 
fisheries of the coast is by enacting and enforcing laws under which 
a certain proportion of the runs will be enabled to reach the spawning 
beds and perform the final and most important function of their 
lives unmolested. If this is done, there can be no question of the 
perpetuation of the industry, and if it is then supplemented by the 
work of hatcheries, which would reduce the loss in the egg stage, 
assurance on this point would be made doubly sure. 

If unrestricted fishing is to prevail, however, with a dependence 
upon hatcheries alone to repair the ravages of man, the industry v^dll 
suffer seriously, for, from the very nature of things, less and less fish 
will annually escape through the fishing zone, resulting in a continu- 
ally lessening quantity of eggs being obtained at the hatcheries, and 
.finally the latter will have to close down from sheer lack of material 
upon which to work. 

Should e^gs be brought to the hatchery from other streams, it 
would merely be "robbing Peter to pay Paul," and in the end thf» 
same result would follow in those streams. 

Fortunately these matters are becoming increasingly plain to the 
people of the various States, provinces, and territories concerned, 
and, while a few selfish persons in each are seeking solely their own 
enrichment by any means possible, the greater number of those 
interested in fishing operations want to see the industry perpetuated 
and are willing to do almost anything that \xi\\ work to this end. 

The rapid increase, during recent years, of salmon trolling and piu'se 
seining on the feeding banks off the mouth of the Columbia River and 
outside the Strait of Juan de Fuca and elsewhere on the coast has 
resulted in the taking of large quantities of small and immature 
salmon, and alarm is now felt lest the runs of chinooks and cohos be 
seriously depleted. Several thousands of large and small boats are 
being operated on these grounds from five to eight months of the year, 
and while, when prices were comparatively low, but few of these 
immature fish were marketed, the high prices which have prevailed 
during the last foiu- years have caused such an intensity of fishing that 
many thousands are now caught each season. 

Investigations " by experts off the mouth of the Columbia in 1918 
show that a large proportion of the chinook salmon caught by trolling 
are 2 and 3 years old. These are generally sold to the canners, who 
separate them into two groups, those under 5 pounds and those over. 
Those under 5 pounds are called "graylings" by the fishermen, but a 
mere glance at them is sufficient to establish their real identity. The 

a The Taking of Immature Salmon in the Waters of the State of Washington. By E Victor Smith 
State of Washington, Dept. of Fisheries. 44 pp., a pis- 1920. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 93 

reports of one cannery during the period from May 11 to May 29 
showed there had bi^en received 4,061 pounds of these fish, none of 
which weighed 5 pounds. From May 30 to June 12 this same can- 
nery received 548 of these fish having a total weight of 1,483 pounds. 
As the oAvner of this cannery was decidedly opposed to the purchase 
of these fish, and only bought them because his regular fishermen 
would have gone to other cannerymen with their full-sized lish had he 
not taken the immature ones, it is probable that the cannerymen 
who were not opposed to the practice received a greater proportion of 
immature fish than he. 

An idea of the smallness of these immature salmon may be gained 
when it is stated that the average weight of sexually matm"o chinook 
salmon running into the Columbia River is about 22 pounds. 

These small chinooks are said to produce a very inferior quality of 
canned goods, being rated as second and third grade. The meat is of 
an ashy color, poor in fat content, and insipid in taste. 
• Off the Strait of Juan de Fuca the same condition of affairs 
existed as off the Columbia River, with the added complication that 
many immature cohos were also captured. 

The immature feeding *coho deteriorates when taken from the 
water even more rapidly than does the immature feeding chinook. 
Within 24 hours of being taken from the water the abdomens may be 
broken open, the ribs protrude freely, and the flesh begins to deteri- 
orate. It was early found that it was impossible, except through the 
exercise of extraordinary precautions, to get these fish to the up- 
sound canneries before it was too late, so that of recent years only 
canneries situated adjacent to the banks were enabled to use them. 

The sale of young salmon in the fresh fish markets of Seattle and 
other Puget Sound cities has been common for years. They are mar- 
keted usually as ''salmon trout." 

It is an economic crime to catch and kill these immature salmon, 
as but little money is obtained for them, while if they were allowed 
to attain maturity they would increase in weight, in the case of the 
chinook nearly 1,000 per cent on the average and in the case of the 
coho about 100 per cent in four or five months time. 

Another bad feature of trolling operations off the mouth of the 
Columbia River is that trollers, because they operated outside the 
3-mile limit, were exempted from the observance of the regular closed 
season, operative in the river from August 25 to September 10. As a 
result of this, fishing was carried on continuously throughout the run; 
most of the gill netters who had to stop fishing in the river put their 
nets ashore and went outside and engaged in trolling, while canneries 
on the river bought and canned all the fish brought in. In 1917 the 
Washington Legislature enacted a law prohibiting possession within 
the State during the closed season, except for personal use, of salmon 
caught beyond the 3-mile limit outside the Columbia River. The 
State court, on trial, held this to be unconstitutional as being an 
interference with interstate and foreign commerce. 

Oregon also adopted the same law as Washington, and on trial this 
was upheld as constitutional on October 3, 1919, by the Oregon 
circuit court. However, the law will be of no value if valid in only 
one State, as if enforced there the fishermen will sell their catches 
in the other State, 



94 U. S. BUREAU or FISHERIES. 

It is quite plain that the salmon runs entering the Columbia River 
and the Strait of Juan de Fuca can not long continue to exist under 
this terrific drain upon the immature and mature fish. In the latter 
section the sockeyes and humpbacks are rapidly being exterminated, 
and it is probable that the chinooks and cohos, the especial victims in 
this attack, will soon show signs of exhaustion. 

The State authorities appear to be helpless in these matters, but an 
enactment by the Federal Government could be maintained, as the 
principle has been applied to fishery matters elsewhere, notably the 
spring mackerel closed season for five years and the sponge law relat- 
ing to the landing of undersized sponges taken from the grounds off 
the Florida coast. 

Next to the fishing operations of man, the gravest danger to the 
salmon fisheries of the Pacific coast lies in the pollution of the rivers 
which the salmon ascend for spawning piu'poses. The salmon, both 
old and young, require pure cold water, and the immense runs which 
have annually ascended the streams for many years are doubtless 
due to the fact that such conditions have prevailed in them. The 
large increase in the population of the coast States within recent 
years, with the resulting increase of mills and factories, has greatly 
increased the amount of sewage from cities and towns and the waste 
of the manufacturing plants. Many of the latter have also con- 
structed dams without adequate fishways, and these also wreak great 
havoc to the industry by cutting the fish off from the upper reaches 
of the rivers upon which constructed. 

The emptying of sewage into streams ought to be made a crime. 
It is an exceedingly crude method of dealing with it, and, instead of 
disposing of the filth, merely transfers it from one place to another, 
making the water unfit for use at points farther downstream and 
spreading diseases and death amongst not only the finny but also 
human users of it. 

In the present condition of sanitary science it is a comparatively 
easy matter to dispose of this filth by modern septic devices, and a 
number of cities are now disposing of their sewage in this manner. 

The irrigation ditch, a comparatively new product on this coast, 
while of great benefit in developing the arid lands in certain sections, 
as at present operated is a considerable menace to the salmon fisheries. 
But few ditches have screens at theh head, and as a result many 
thousands of young salmon slowly making their way to the ocean 
home pass into and down these to an early doom. Every owner of 
such a ditch should be compelled to place at its head a screen with 
fine enough mesh to prevent absolutely the passage through the 
same of even the tiniest baby salmon. 

Next to man and his methods the trout is undoubtedly one of the 
greatest enemies of the salmon. The Dolly Varden follow the salmon 
irom the sea to the spawning beds, and when the eggs are extruded 
devour countless thousands of them. Many and many a time the 
wi"iter has seen on the spawning beds female red salmon swimming 
around with a cloud of trout spread out behind like a fan, following 
her every movement, eagerly waiting for the moment when the eggs 
shall appear. 

In the summer, when the young are heading for the sea, the trout 
are lying in wait for them and again take their toll of countless 
thousands. 



I 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



95 



Much is said by certain people of the ravages amongst the salmon 
of certain animals, as the seal, sea lion, bear, eagle, kingfisher, crane, 
duck, loon, and hawk. While in the aggregate the ravages of these 
animals are considerable, they are not a drop in the bucket as com- 
pared with the direct or indirect ravages of man and his agencies* 

FISHING SEASON IN ALASKA. 

There is much interest manifested in the beginning and end o^ 
the salmon-fishing season for the more important waters of the variou^ 
regions of Alaska. The following table, extracted from United Statc^ 
Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 838, "Alaska P'isheries and Fur 
Industries in 1916," pages 48 and 49, gives dates taken from the 
statistical reports made by the canning companies. The earliest one 
reported b}^ any company doing much fishing lias been accepted as 
an opening date, while the closing date was determined by taking 
the day nearest to which major operations ceased. 

Fishing Season in the Canning Industry for Salmon Caught in Certain Im- 
portant Waters in Alaska in 1916. 



Locality. 



Coho. 



Fishing 
began — 



Fishing 
ended— 



Chiim. 



Fishing 
began— 



Fishing 
ended— 



Southeast Alaska: 

Chatham Strait 

Prince of Wales Island, west side 

Cordova Bay 

Clarence Strait — 

Southern section 

Northern section 

Behm Canal ' , 

Re villagigedo Channel 

Stephens Passage , 

Peril and Sumner Straits , 

Frederick Sound 

Icy Strait and Cross Sound , 

LjTin Canal 

Baranof Island, west side , 

Chichagof Island, west side 

Portland Canal 

Iphigenia Bay , 

Yakutat Bay and vicinity 

Central Alaska: 

Bering River 

Martin River 

Copper R i ver Delta 

Copper River, lake and canyon 

Controller Bay 

Cook Inlet 

Prince William Sound- 
Eastern section 

Western section 

Afognak streams- 
Western part 

Eastern part 

Karluk 

Red River 

Uganik 

Olga Bay 

Chignik Bay 

Ikatan Bav 

Cold Bay, Thin Point, and King Cove. 

Morzhovoi Bav 

Pavlof Bay..." 

Western Alaska: 

Kvichak Bay 

Naknek, Ugaguk, and Ugashik Rivers. 

Nushagak Bay 

Nushagak River 

Port Mollcr 

Nelson Lagoon 

Kotzebue Sound 



June 1 
June 15 
...do 



Sept. 27 
Sept. 23 
...do 



June 1 
Jiilv 1 
...do.... 



Sept. 30 
...do.... 
...do.... 



June 10 
July 20 
June 15 
June 27 
JiUy 4 
June 24 
June 22 
June 15 
July 7 
July 4 
Aug. 15 
Aug. 16 
June 8 
Aug. 25 



Sepr. 29 
Sept. 30 
Oct. 20 
Sept. 29 
Oct. 4 
Sept. 27 
Sept. 21 
Sept. 20 
Oct. 1 
Sept. 20 
Sept. 15 
Sept. 9 

...do 

Sept. 28 



June 27 
Aug. 13 
June 15 
June 27 
June 22 
July 1 
Sept. 14 
May 29 
July 7 
June 20 
Aug. 5 
July 8 



Sept. 29 
Oct. 17 
Oct. 20 
Sept. 29 
Oct. 3 
Sept. 30 
Sept. 23 
Sept. 27 
Oct. 1 
Sept. 20 
Sept. 15 
Sept. 3 



May 12 
May 31 
Aug. 24 
July 2 

July 1 



Sept. 24 
Sept. 16 
Sept. 25 
Aug. 27 

Sept. 30 



May 12 
May 31 



Sept. 24 
Sept. 16 



June 24 



June 23 
July 7 



Aug. 23 

Sept. 24 
Aug. 4 



Aug. 15 
Jime 3 



Oct. 20 
Oct. 2 



Aug. 15 
June 8 
June 28 
May 22 
June 28 
June 9 



Oct. 10 
Sept. 1 
Sept. 9 
July 25 
Aug. 15 
Aug. 11 



June 
June 



Oct. 2 
July 21 



June 8 
June 12 
May 22 
June 28 
June 9 



Sept. 1 
Sept. 8 
July 25 
Aug. 15 
Aug. 11 



June 11 



Aug. 1 



June 11 
Jmie 24 
June 7 



Aug. 4 
Aug. 6 
Aug. 9 



July 20 



Sept. 1 



Juno 11 
June 21 
Juno 11 
June 23 
Jime 7 
July 1 



Aug. 1 
July 31 
Aug. 4 
Aug. 6 
Aug. 9 
Aug. 7 



96 



U. S. BUEEAU or FISHERIES. 



Fishing Season in the Canning Inbustry for Salmon Caught in Certain Im- 
portant Waters in Alaska in 1916 — Continued. 



Locality. 



Southeast Alaska: 

Chatham Strait 

Prince of Wales Island, west side 

Cordova Bay 

Clarence Strait- 
Southern section 

Northern section 

Behm Canal 

Revillagigedo Channel , 

Stephens Passage 

Peril and Sumner Straits 

Fredericlc Sound 

Icy Strait and Cross Sound 

Lynn Canal 

Baranof Island, west side 

Chichagof Island, west side 

Portland Canal - 

Iphigenia Bay 

Yakutat Bay and vicinity 

Central Alaska: 

Bering River 

Martin River 

Copper River Delta 

Copper River, lake and canyon 

Controller Bay 

Cook Inlet 

Prince William Sound — 

Eastern section 

Western section 

Afognak streams- 
Western part 

Eastern part 

Karluk 

Red River 

Uganik 

Olga Bay 

Chignik Bay 

Ikatan Bay 

Cold Bay, Thin Point, and King Cove 

Morzhovoi Bay 

Pavlof Bay 

Western Alaska: 

Kvichak Bay 

Naknek, Ugaguk, and Ugashik Rivers 

Nushagak Bay 

Nushagak River 

Port Moller 

Nelson Lagoon 

Kotzebue Sound 



Humpback. 



Fishing 
began— 



June 1 
July 1 
June 15 

June 27 
Aug. 13 
June 15 
June 27 
Jime 22 
June 21 



June 1 

July 7 

June 20 

Aug. 1 

July 8 

June 8 

July 15 



May 12 

Mav 31 

July 23 

June 27 

June 28 
July 9 

June 20 
July 15 
June 3 
June 8 
June 5 
June 8 
June 12 
Mav 22 
June 28 
June 9 
Aug. 7 

June 11 



June 11 
June 17 
Jime 7 



Fishing 
ended — 



Sept. 30 

..do 

..do.. .. 



Aug. 16 
Oct. 17 
Oct. 20 
Sept. 29 
Sept. 21 
Sept. 30 



Sept. 27 
Aug. 24 
Sept. 20 
Sept. 15 
Sept. 3 
Sept. 9 
Aug. 10 



King. 



Fishing 



June 1 



Jime 27 



June 16 
May 9 



May 21 



Sept. 24 
Sept. 16 
Aug. 8 
Aug. 27 

Sept. 24 
Aug. 1 

Aug. 15 
Sept. 16 
Oct. 2 
July 21 
Oct. 10 
Sept. 1 
Aug. 31 
July 25 
Aug. 15 
Aug. 11 
Aug. 15 

Aug. 1 



Aug. 4 
Aug. 6 
Aug. 9 



Jime 2 

June 22 
May 12 

...do 

May 31 



May 27 



June 3 



June 8 
June 12 
May 22 



June 9 



June 11 
June 21 
June 11 
June 8 
Jime 7 
...do 



Fishing 
ended — 



?ept. 22 



Aug. 30 



July 16 
July 12 



July 15 



Aug. 4 

June 28 
July 9 

...do 

Sept. 16 



Aug. 27 



Oct. 



Sept. 1 
Aug. 31 
July 25 



Aug. 1 
July 31 
Aut;. 4 
July 28 
Aug. 9 
July 21 



Red. 



Fishing 
began— 



June 1 
June 15 
...do 



Jime 8 
July 13 
Jime 15 
Jime 27 
Jime 21 
June 27 
June 22 
May 21 
June 24 
June 8 
Aug. 1 
July 8 
June 8 
June 2 

Jime 6 
June 12 
May 12 
May 31 
May 27 
May 30 

June 20 
June 17 

May 15 
June 1 
June 3 
Jime 8 
June 5 
June 8 
June 12 
May 22 
June 28 
June 9 



June 11 
June 21 
June 11 
Jime 13 
June 7 
...do 



Fishing 
ended^ 



Sept. 12 

Sept. 23 

Do. 

Sept. 29 
Sept. 7 
Oct. 16 
Sept. 29 
Oct. 3 
Sept. 9 
Sept. 21 
Sept. 15 
Oct. 1 
Sept. 20 
Sept. 1 
Aug. 18 
Sept. 9 
Aug. 4 

Aug. 7 
July 9 
Aug. 15 
Sept. 16 
Aug. 15 
Aug. 27 

Sept. 24 
July 23 

July 31 
Oct. 20 
Oct. 2 
July 21 
July 27 
Sept. 1 
Sept. 9 
July 25 
Aug. 15 
Aug. 11 



Aug. 1 
July 31 
Aug. 4 
Aug. 6 
Aug. 9 
Aug. 7 



FISHERMEN AND OTHER EMPLOYEES. 

FISHERMEN. 

White men do the greater part of the fishing for salmon, many- 
nationalities being represented, but Scandinavians and Italians pre- 
dominate almost everywhere. A number of Greeks are to be found 
fishing in the Sacramento^ while Slavonians do most of the purse 
seining on Puget Sound. The native-born American is not often 
found actually engaged in fishing, but frequently is the owner of the 
gear or has a responsible position in the packhig plants. 

A number of Indians participate in the fisheries of Alaska and a 
few fish in Washington. The only Chinese engaged in fishing are in 
Monterey Bay. A number of Japanese also fish in this bay, which is 
the only place in American territory where they fish for salmon. A 
considerable number of Japanese engage in fishing in Canadian waters. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 97 

In many places on the coast, particularly in Alaska, fishing is a 
hazardous occupation. In Alaska most of it is done in the bays, 
sounds, and straits, where storms are frequent, and the annual loss 
of life is heavy. The records of the Alaska Fishermen's Union show 
for its members the following losses of life by drowning: 1905. 10 
m(Mi; 1906, 5 men; 1907, 10 men; 190S, 17 men; and 1909, 17 men. 

The fishermen early saw the advantages of organization, and nearly 
every river now has a union which is subordinate to the general 
organization. One of the most typical of these is the Alaska Fisher- 
men's Union, which has active jurisdiction over all sections of Alaska 
except a portion of southeast Alaska. This organization enters into 
contracts with the salmon canneries and salteries, by which the rates 
of wages, duties, etc., of the fishermen are fixed in advance for a 
certain period — three years — up until 1918, when an agreement was 
made for only one year. The same was true in 1919. As a result of 
this mutual agreement upon terms but little trouble is experienced 
with the fishermen, who generally conform scrupulously to the terms 
of the contract, and strikes and bickerings, which were very common 
some years ago, are now almost entirely absent. 

CANNERY LABOR. 
NATIONALITIES. 

In the early days canning was a haphazard business and workmen 
came and went as common laborers do in the wheat fields of the West. 
As the business increased in importance and the need of skilled labor 
became imperative, men were put to certain work and kept at it from 
season to season, with the result that in a few years a corps of highly 
skilled workers had been evolved, and this had much to do with the 
rapid extension of the industry. 

For many years Chinese formed the greater part of the cannery 
employees, the supermtendent, foreman, clerks, machinists, and 
watchmen alone being white. No other laborers have ever been 
found to do the work as well or with as little trouble as the Chinese. 
In times of heavy runs, when the cannery would have to operate almost 
day and night in order to take advantage of what might be the last 
run for the season of the sometimes erratic salmon, the Chinese were 
always willing, even eager, to do their utmost to fill the cans, and, if 
fed with the especial food they insisted upon having and due regard 
was had to certain racial susceptibilities, the cannery man could 
almost invariably depend upon the Chinese doing their utmost. 

The Chinese-exclusion law cut off the supply of Chinese, and as the 
years went by and their ranks became decimated by death, disease, 
and the return of many to China, the contractors were compelled to 
fill up the rapidly depleting crews with Japanese, Filipinos, Mexicans, 
Porto Ricans, etc., with the result that to-day in many canneries 
special quarters have to be provided for certain of the races — more 

garticularly the Chinese and Japanese — m order to prevent racial 
atred from engendering brawls and disturbances. 
In Alaska the Japanese now compose about one-half of the canneir 
employees. While a few cannery men express themselves as well 
pleased with this class of labor, the majority find it troublesome. 

11312°— 21 7 



98 U. S. BUREAU or FISHERIES. 

In Alaska and at a few places in the States Indians are employed 
in the canneries. In Alaska more would be employed if they could be 
secured. They make fair work people, but are rather unreliable about 
remaining through the season. 

CHINESE CONTRACT SYSTEM. 

Cannery labor is supplied largely through the contract system 
In the large cities along the coast are agencies, mainly owned by 
Chinese, which make a specialty of furnishing labor for canning. 
In the agreement between the canning company and the contractor 
the company guarantees to pack a certain number of cases diu"ing 
the coming season, and the latter agrees to do all the work from 
the time the fish are delivered on the wharf until they are ready 
to ship at the end of the season for a certain fixed sum per case. 
Should the cannery pack more than the guaranteed number, which it 
usually does if possible, the excess has to be paid for at the rate per 
case already agreed upon, while if the pack for any reason should lall 
below the contract amount, the company must pay for the shortage 
the same as though they had been packed. The company transports 
the Chinese to the field of work and carries them to the home port at 
the end of the season. It provides them with a bunk house and fur- 
nishes fuel, water, and salt. The contractor sends along with each 
crew a "boss," who has charge of the crew and furnishes their food, 
the company transporting this free. 

While this contract system met with favor from some of the can- 
nery men because it relieved them from the annoyance and trouble 
involved in hiring, working, and feeding their cannery gangs, others, 
and these the most farsighted, from the early days of the industry 
viewed it with suspicion and distrust and in a few instances refused 
to have anything to do with it. While the plan apparently met with 
no objection from the Chinese when they were the only ones engaged 
in the work, as soon as other races began to be employed disputes 
became common, and it is probable that to-day it is the most unpop- 
ular feature of the industry from the common workers' standpoint, 
and mainly because of the abuses which have grown up in connection 
with it. 

Since the beginning of the present century there has been a steady 
expansion of the salmon-canning hidustry, with a consequent heavy 
demand for cannery labor. As a result of the operation of theChhiese- 
exclusion act during this period the number oi Chinese available has 
been steadily declining; in fact, most of the Chhiese now employed 
are mainly men well along in life, as the few comprised in the rising 
generation do not wish to follow in their fathers' footsteps. As a 
result the oriental gang no^ comprises many nationalities. 

The great increase in the number of catuieries during the period 
noted, with the resulting demand for labor, led to the introduction 
of other nationalities, more notably the Japanese, into the ranks of 
the Chinese contractors. Many oi these operated with very little 
or no capital and when a bad season occurred they usually passed 
their losses, in whole or in part, onto their workers, usually by abscond- 
ing, and when the latter attempted to come back onto the owner of 
the plant the latter successfully pleaded the fact that he had made 
a contract with the contractor to do the work at a certain fixed sum 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 99 

per case, that the stipulated price had been paid him, and if he failed 
to settle with the men it was no concern of the oamier. 

The contractor, under his agreement with the canner, has the right 
to feed his employees from the ime tliey leave the home port until 
they retui'n, and this is a most prolific source of profit and graft 
to him and of trouble to the canner. When the workers comprise 
orientals alone, the food question rarely troubles as then rice, wliich 
is the staple food and is also as a rule quite cheap, meets with 
the approval of all. But since the gangs now comprise almost as 
manv nonorientals as there are orientals, and the former find it im- 
possible to exist, let alone thrive, on rice, much trouble results when 
the contractor furnishes them with an undue proportion of the latter 
in the dail" menu. As a result of this condition of affairs, some of the 
more far-seeing companies now compel the contractor to furnish each 
nationality wdth food to which they are accustomed and in sufficient 
quantities. Eternal vigilance is required in this matter, however, 
as the wily oriental is always seeking an opportunity to increase his 
profits by cutting the quantity of food to the minimum and by forcing 
as much rice as possible upon the employees Innumerable strikes 
in the canneries can be traced directly to dissatisfaction with the 
quantity, kind, and quality of food furnished to the men by the 
contractor's agent; and the resulting losses, which are sometimes ver}^ 
large, as the strikes generally occur when the cannery has plenty of 
fish, fall upon the cannery men. 

Nearly all of the workers are ignorant men; in most cases they have 
but little knowledge of English, the language in which the contract 
is printed, and as no paternal Government watches over them to see 
that they understand thoroughly the terms of the contract and that 
it is fulfilled on the part of the employer, as is done in the case of the 
sailors and fishermen, some of them discover at the end of the season 
that their pay does not come up to the glowing promises of the agent 
who recruited them and also frequently discover that there are various 
fines provided for in the contract, which, while they do not work an 
injustice when the contractor is honest, j^et in the hands of an unscru- 
pulous and grasping contractor, frequently operate to the financial 
disadvantage of the worker. 

Some, of the dishonest contractors have developed other methods 
for fleecing their employees. Sometimes they will furnish to their 
contract workers, either directly or through some concern in which 
they have financial interests or which will pay them a commission, an 
outfit comprising clothing, blankets, shoes, etc., at a price two or 
three hundred times its real value. The worst feature of many of 
these outfits is that they are woefully inadequate for use in the 
climate to which the cannery ship is bound. Some unscrupulous 
contractors also sell goods to the workers at extortionate prices while 
at the cannery The latter is usually not permitted by the canners, 
who generally operate a store of their own w^here the men can as a rule 
obtain goods as cheap as they can be bought in either San Francisco 
or Seattle 

Orientals are inveterate gamblers, and there are usually several 
sharpers with each cannery gang, generally with the connivance of 
the contractor's agent — although it is usually an impossibility to 
prove this legally — and they inveigle the green hands into all sorts of 
gambling games, and in this manner frequently succeed in winning 



100 U, S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

all or part of their season's wages. That those in charge of the gang 
are well aware of what is going on is patent when it is stated that the 
men are not paid off until they return to the home port at the end of 
the season, and that no considerable claim on the wages due a worker 
can be paid unless the contractor or his agent knows what it is for. 
Sometimes when dealing with a canner who is insistent upon seeing 
justice done to the members of the oriental gang, and the number of 
these is increasing rapidly, an effort is made to camouflage these j 
gambling debts by charging them up on the books as clothing or 
goods furnished the worker. 

As a result of these evils, a numbei of the cannerymen have dis- 
continued the practice of making Chinese contracts and deal directly 
with their men. When this is done, it is but rare to hear of a strike 
due to food supplied, as the cannerymen, when the matter is put 
directly up to them, realize that the only way in which they can 
expect adequate work from their employees is by seeing that they 
are given the proper kind and quantity oi food and that they operate 
under decent working and living conditions. 

A few of the cannerymen who still retain the old system endeavor 
to eradicate so far as possible the evils of it by a close supervision 
over the food supplied the men and by having a representative 
present at the season's pay-off in order to see that no attempt is made 
to cheat the men out of their wages. Unfortunately, however, some 
of them feel that they have done their full duty when they have 
made a contract with someone, no matter what his financial responsi- 
bility may be, and have paid him the agreed upon sum at the end of 
the season, doubtless feeling that the rest is the concern alone of the 
men 

In a very few instances the members of the oriental gang are still 
shoved into inadequate and insanitary quarters aboard ships, and 
at the canneries are housed in quarters which are a disgrace to {iny 
modern packing plant, but, fortunately, these conditions, as stated, 
prevail now with but comparatively few of the companies. The old 
"China" house, in which was housed the whole oriental gang like 
rabbits in a warren, has been largely superseded by cottages, each 
housing from 8 to 16 men, and these are numerous enough to permit 
of the various nationalities flocking by themselves. Bathmg facilities, 
with hot and cold water, are fairly common, and opportunities for 
washing clothing are frequent. 

FISHERIES OF BOUNDARY WATERS. 

Waters which form the boundaries between States or between 
nations, and in which fishing is carried on by the citizens of both, 
have almost always proved bones of contention, and the Pacific 
coast has been no exception to the rule. 

WASHINGTON AND OREGON. 

The Columbia River, which forms the boundary between Oregon 
and Washington, affords a typical example of the evils which can 
result from a division of responsibility ])etween two States. For 
many years each State enacted laws regulating the fisheries of the 
river with very slight regard usually to laws already in force in the 
other State. As a result of this the fishermen transferred their 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 101 

residence for license purposes from State to State as the laws of one 
or the other best sviited their particular purposes. 

The fishermen and packers also were in apparently irreconcilable 
conilict as to the proper means to be taken to conserve the fisheries, 
and each session of the legislatures saw strong lobbies present to 
work for certain selfish ends, while the few earnest men who had the 
real welfare of the fisheries of the river at heart had difficulty in 
making the slightest headway against the influence of these lobbies. 

To further complicate the matter, in 1894 Oregon claimed that, 
under the provisions of the enabling act admitting it as a State, it 
had jurisdiction to the Wasliino;ton shore, and proceeded to arrest 
Washington men who were fishing in what was the open season 
according to Washington law but the closed season under Oregon law. 

In June, 1908, the voters of the State of Oregon had presented for 
their consideration two bills radically affecting the waters of Columbia 
River. One proposed closing the river east of the mouth of the Sandy 
River against all fishing of any kind except with hook and line, and 
was originated by gill-net fishermen of the lower river for the purpose 
of eliminating fish wheels in the upper waters. This bill was the first 
presented to the people, and wnen it appeared the upriver men 
retaliated by presenting a bill affecting the lower river to such an 
extent that it practically prohibited the net fishermen from operating. 

Very much to the surprise of all concerned both bills were passed 
and became laws on July 1, to take effect, as provided, on August 25 
and September 10, respectively. The Oregon master fish warden 
proceeded to enforce both laws, arresting all violators on both sides 
of the river, irrespective of whether or not they were operating under 
a Washington or Oregon license, and incidentally did the fisheries a 
great service by bringing prominently before the public the anoma- 
lous condition of affairs which was occasioned by the archaic system 
under which the fisheries of the Columbia were governed. The State 
of Washington appealed to the United States courts, which, after 
argument, issued an injunction preventing the warden from enforc- 
ing the laws so far as the W^ashington fishermen were concerned. 

In the meantime the attention of the General Government had 
been drawn to the apparently irreconcilable conflict between the two 
States, and fearing tnat in the melee the interests of the fisheries 
would be lost sight of. President Roosevelt, in a message to Con- 
gress, after reciting briefly the lack of harmony in jurisdiction by the 
States, recommended that the General Government take over the 
control of the fisheries of the Columbia, as well as other interstate 
rivers. 

This had the effect of bringing matters to a head, and negotiations 
were soon in progress looking to the preparation of a treaty between 
the two States by which uniform laws would be adopted, and thus 
each State have concurrent jurisdiction to the opposite shore of the 
river. The legislatures each appointed a committee of eight mem- 
bers to confer and frame joint legislation. The two committees met 
in Seattle, Wash., early in 1909, and agreed upon the following 
recommendations : 

First. A spring closed seaFon from March 1 to May 1 . 
Second. A fall closed seaeon tioni August 25 1o Septemler 10. 

Third. A Sunday closed season from S p. m. Saturday of each week to G p. m. the 
Sunday following between the Igt day of May and the 26th day of August. 



102 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHEEIES. 

Fourth. We suggest the mutual recognition by each State of the licenses issued to 
floating gear by the other State. 

Fifth. That the State of Oregon repeal chapter 89 of the session laws of Oregon 
for the year 1907, relative to the operation of purse seines and other like gear on the 
Columbia River. 

Sixth. We recommend the enactment of similar laws in both States carrying an 
appropriation of at least $2,500 in each State and providing for the destruction of 
seals and sea lions and the granting of a bounty on the same, to be $2.50 for seals and 
$5 for sea lions. 

Seventh. We recommend the repeal of both the fish bills passed under the provi- 
sions of the initiative and referendum in June, 1907, by the people of the State of 
Oregon, said bills being designated on the ballot as 318, 319 and 332, 333. 

The recommendations were enacted into law by both States, and 
at the same time the State of Washington in its bill also prohibited 
fishing for salmon within 3 miles of the mouth of the Columbia 
between March 1 and May 1 and between August 25 and September 
10, or salmon fishing on tributaries of the Columbia, except the Snake, 
between June 1 and vSeptember 15; and also prohibited fishing for 
salmon by any means save by hook and line in the Kalama, Lewis, 
Wind, Little VThite Salmon, Wenatchee, Methow, and Spokane 
Rivers and in the Columbia River 1 mile below the mouth of any of 
the rivers named. The agreement was subjected to a rather severe 
strain, however, when it was discovered that the Oregon Legislature 
had failed to provide the same closed periods for the tributaries that 
were enacted for the Columbia, thus leaving the Willamette, Clacka- 
mas, Lewis and Clark, and Youngs Rivers and Spikanon Creek open 
to fishing for 15 days in March and 15 days in April, while the 
Columbia was closed. The cry of bad faith was at once raised by 
the Washington fishermen, and for a short time it appeared that the 
agreement would be broken at the very beginning. The Oregon 
Board of Fish Commissioners took the matter up, however, and by 
order closed these streams to all fishing during the times of closed 
season on the Columbia, and thus restored peace once more. 

This agreement continued in force until 1915, when the legislature 
of each State prepared for a thorough revision of its fishery code. In 
order to make this revision more efl"ective, committees from both 
legislatures were appointed and held joint meetings in Portland, 
where they mutually agreed upon laws covering the fisheries of the 
Columbia River, and in order to make this agreement more binding 
the following chapter was inserted in the codes finally adopted : 

All laws and regulations now existing, or which may 1 le necessary for regulating, 
protecting, or preserving fish in the waters of the Columbia River, over which the 
States of Oregon and Washington have concurrent jurisdiction, or any other waters 
within either of said States, which would affect said concurrent jurisdiction, shall 1)6 
made, changed, altered, and amended in whole or in part only with the mutual 
consent and approbation of both States. 

As such an agreement between two States requires the approval 
of Congress, a bill ratifying the same was introduced in Congress on 
December 16, 1915, but was not finally ratified until April 1, 1918. 

While the compact was pending in Congress, the Washington 
legislature at its 1917 session made several changes in the existing 
fisheries law and contended they were efi'ective because the com- 
pact agreement was not ratified by Congress until 1918, which then 
did not take recognition of the new regulations. When the matter 
came officially before the superior court of Pacific County, Wash., 
in 1919, the court held that the compact was valid, thus nullifying 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 103 

laws passed by the State of Washington afTorting the Columbia 
River sknce 1915, and if this decision stands in the higlier courts of 
both States all laws passed by either h'gislature since 1915, affecting 
the Columbia lliver fisheries, will fail unless they happen to be the 
same in both States. 

WASHINGTON AND BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

The conditions which prevail in Puget Sound adjacent to the 
boundary between Washington and British Cohmibia have also been 
the cause of serious anxiety to those interested in the perpetuation 
of the salmon fisheries. The great schools of sockeye salmon which 
are on their way from the ocean to the spawning beds in the Fraser 
River pass through this section, and it is here that the greater part of 
the fishing is done. The Province of British Columbia and the State 
of Washington are vitally interested in the preservation of these 
fish, but. unfortunately, they seem unable to agree upon any definite 
policy with regard to their conservation, although it would appear 
to the unprejudiced observer that it ought to be possible to find some 
common ground upon which they could agree. 

This condition of affairs on Puget Sound and similar conditions in 
other boundary waters led the General Government to take up the 
matter, and on April 11, 1908, a convention was concluded between 
this country and Great Britahi for the protection and preservation 
o the food fishes in international boundary waters of the United 
States and Canada. Both Governments appointed international 
commissioners — Dr. David Starr Jordan for the United States and 
S. T. Bastedo (wlio was succeeded later by Prof. Edward Ernest 
Prince) for Canada — whoso duty it was to investigate conditions pre- 
vailing in these waters and to recommend a system of uniform and 
common international regulations. After an exhaustive investiga- 
tion the commissioners submitted recommendations, which included 
the following affecting the boundary waters dividing the State of 
Washington and the Province of British Columhia, these waters 
being defined as the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and those parts of Wash- 
ington Sound, the Gulf of Georgia, and Puget Sound lying between 
the parallels of 48° 10' and 49° 20': 

GENERAL REGULATIONS. 

S. D'isposition of prohibited catch. — In case any fish is unintentionally captured 
contrary to the prohibitions or restrictions contained in any of the followintf regula- 
tions, such fish shall, if possible, be immediately returned alive and uninjured to the 
water. 

4. Dynamite, poisonous substances, etc. — No person shall place or use quicklime, 
dj-namite, explosive, or poisonous substances, or electric device in treaty waters for 
the purpose of capturing or killing fish. 

5. Pollution of waters. — No person shall place or pass, or allow tp pass, into treaty 
waters any substance offensive to fi.shers, injurious to fish life, or destructive to fish 
fry or to the food of fish fry, unless f)ermitted so to do under any law passed by the 
legislative authority having jurisdiction. 

No person shall deposit dead fish, fish offal, or gurry in treaty waters, or on ice formed 
thereon, excejit in gurry grounds established by the duly constituted authorities. 

6'. Capture of fishes for propagation or for scientific purposes. — Nothing contained in 
these regulations shall prohibit or interfere with the taking of any fishes at any time 
for propagation or hatchery purposes, and obtaining at any time or by any method 
specimens of fishes for scientific purposes under authority granted for Canadian treaty 
waters by the duly coivstitut 1 authorities in Can i; la and for United States treaty 
waters by the duly constituted authorities in the United States. 



104 tJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

3 

12. Capture of immature salmon jwohibiled. — No ^aliron or steelhead of less than 
pounds in weight shall be fished for, killed, or raptured in treaty waters. 

l-S. Salmoyi weirs, etc., above tidal limits prohibited. — No salmon and no steelhead 
shall be fished for, killed, or captured by means of a net of any sort, any weir or any 
fish wheel, above tidal limits in any river in treaty waters. 

14. Close season for sturgeon. — During the term of four years next following the date 
of the promulgation of these regulations no sturgeon shall be fished for, killed, or 
captured in treaty waters. 

1.'). Capture of fish for fertilizer or oil prohibited. — Fishes useful for human food shall 
not bo fished for, killed, or captured in treaty waters for use in the manufacture of 
fertilizer, or of oil other than oil for food or medicinal purposes. 

16. Naked hooJcs and spears prohibited. — No spear, grappling hook, or naked hook, 
and no artificial bait with more than three hooks, or more than one burr of three hooks 
attached thereto, shall be used for the capture of fish in treaty waters. This regula- 
tion shall not prohibit the use of a gaff in hook-and-line fishing. 

17. Torching prohibited. — No torch, flambeau, or other artificial light shall be used 
as a lure for fish in treaty waters. 

The following regulations relate specifically to the waters named: 

STRAIT OF JUAN DE FUCA AND ADJACENT WATERS. 

The following regulations (62 to 66, inclusive) shall apply to the Strait of Juan de 
Fuca, those parts of Washington Sound, the Gulf of Georgia, and Puget Sound lying 
between the parallels of 48° 10^ and 49° 20' north latitude: 

6'2. Close season for salmon. — From August 25 to September 15 in each year, both 
days inclusive, no salmon or steelhead shall be fished for, killed, or captured for com- 
mercial purposes in these treaty waters; provided, however, that in the waters to the 
westward of a line drawn southward from Gonzales Point to the shore of the State of 
Washington silver salmon, or coho salmon, may be fished for, killed, or captured from 
September 1 to September 15 in each year, both days inclusive. 

6.'J. Weekly close season for salmon and steelhead. — From 6 o'clock Saturday morning 
to 6 o'clock on the Monday morning next succeeding, no salmon or steelhead shall be 
fished for, killed, or captured in the.se treaty waters. 

It is, however, provided that in the waters to the westward of a line drawn south- 
ward from Gonzales Point to the shore of the State of Washington the weekly clo.se 
season shall begin 12 hours earlier, and shall end 12 hours earlier. 

64- Construction of j)ound nets. — All pound nets or other stationary appliances for 
the capture of salmon or steelhead shall be so constructed that no fish whatever shall 
be taken during the weekly close season. The erection or addition to the pound net 
of a jigger is prohibited. 

65. Location of pound nets. — -All pound nets shall be limited to a length of 2,500 
feet, with an end passageway of at least 600 feet between one pound net and the next 
in a linear series, such distance being measured in continuation of the line of direc- 
tion of the leader of such net, and a lateral passageway of at least 2,400 feet between 
one pound net and the next. 

On and after January 1, 1911, the mesh in pound nets shall be 4 inches in extension 
in the leader and not less than 3 inches in other parts of the net. 

66. Nets other than pound nets. — No purse net shall be used within 3 miles of the 
mouth of any river and no seine within 1 mile of the mouth of any river in these treaty 
waters. 

No gill net of more than 900 feet in length or of a greater depth than 60 meahes shall 
be used in these treaty waters. 

The effort to enact these regulations into law by our Congress met 
with decided objections not only on the part of the Pu it Sou d 
operators, but also from opierators in other waters affected, with the 
result that the bill was shelved and never acted upon finally. After 
waiting a while to see if any action would be taken by our Govern- 
ment, Canada finally repealed the act in which it had accepted the 
regulations. 

DECRE.\SE IN SOCKEYE SAT.MON RUN. 

In 1913 the matter of the Frazcr River-Puget Sound sockeye salmon 
run came prominently to the fore through a rock slide in Hell Gate 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



105 



Canyon, on the Fraser River, caused by blasting operations of a 
construction gan<:; building a railroad through there. This slide, it 
was asserted, cut off the greater part of the run to the upper river, and, 
it was feared, would have a very serious effect on future runs. By the 
time the run of 1914 arrived the greater part of the debris had been 
removed from the canyon, and the fish, it was alleged, could once more 
pass up. Reports of persons who visited these spawning grounds in 
1913 and subsequent years were to the effect that but few spawners, 
as compared with earlier years, were to be found on them. 

That the subsequent decrease in the runs was not to be attributed 
solely to the rock slide in Hell Gate canyon is plainly evident by a 
glance at the pack figures in this area before and subsequent to 1913. 
The following statement shows the combined sockeye packs of the 
American and Canadian packers operating on the run going to the 
Iraser River: 



Cases. 

1915 155,714 

191() 105,870 

1917 "559,732 

1918 70,420 

1919 98,409 



Cases. 

1909 al, 590, 555 

1910 384, 869 

1911 : 189,767 

1912 . 307,775 

1913 a 2, 401, 488 

1914 534, 434 

Aside from the damage caused to the ''big year" run by the rock 
slide, there can be only one explanation of such a progressive decline 
m the pack, and that is excessive fishing. The fishermen of both 
countries are to blame for this. On the American side traps, purse 
seines, and, in a slight degree, gill nets, have taken a heavy toll of the 
fish as they passed through our waters. After some had safely run 
this gantlet they met thousands of gill nets operted by Canadian 
fishermen in and around the mouth of the Fraser River and in the 
lower reaches of same, and it is a wonder that any of the schools 
ever got to the spawning beds. Several abortive attempts have been 
made by the authorities of Canada and British Columbia on the one 
side and the wState of Washington on the other to arrive at some equi- 
table method for protecting this sockeye run. The former especially 
have professed an earnest desire to do something along this line, and 
there is no reason to doubt their sincerity. On the American side a 
few people, and among these a few of the more intelligent canners, 
pleaded for the enactment of laws that would adequately protect the 
salmon, but they were overborne by the great bulk of the packers and 
fishermen who, disregarding all the warnings and teachings of expe- 
rience, insisted upon going ruthlessly forward with the slaughter, 
and when reproached with their shortsightedness clamored for the 
establishment of more salmon hatcheries, as though the latter could 
accompHsh the miracle of increasing the supply of fry from a steadily 
decreasino; supply of eggs. 

That this wanton destruction of one of our greatest natural 
resources should have been permitted to continue unchecked by the 
people of Washington and British Columbia is a most surprising thing, 
and indicates either a most remarkable ignorance of the condition, 
which should have been patent to everybody, or a criminal apathy. 



• The big year, which comes every fourth year. 



106 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHEKIES. 

AMERICAN-CANADIAN FISHERIES CONFERENCE. 

In 1917 a joint commission, known as the American-Canadian 
Fisheries Conference, was appointed to take evidence and see if it 
were possible to compose the fishery disputes which had affected the 
good relations of the two countries for over 150 years. The com- 
mission was composed, for America, of William C. Redfield, Secretary 
of Commerce ; Edwin F. Sweet, assistant Secretary of Commerce ; and 1 
Dr. Hugh M. Smith, Commissioner of Fisheries ; and for Canada, of 
J. Douglas Hazen, Chief Justice of New Brunswick, who had been 
for six years Minister of Marine and Fisheries for Canada; George G. 
Desbarats, deputy Minister Naval Service; and William A. Found, 
Superintendent of Fisheries. 

Hearings were held on the Atlantic coast in 1917 and on the 
Pacific coast in 1918, and in 1919 the commission agreed upon and 
presented to their respective Governments several treaties concern- 
ing these matters, the only one of special interest here being the 
treaty covering the sockeye fisheries of the Fraser River-JPuget 
Sound, which was signed on September 2, 1919. Owing to its 
importance this treaty is reproduced entire below: 

CONVENTION FOR THE PROTECTION, PRESERVATION, AND PROPA- 
GATION OF SALMON. 

The United States of America, and His Majesty George V, of the United Kingdom 
of Great Britain and Ireland, and of the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King, 
Emperor of India, equally recognizing the desirability of uniform and effective 
measures for the protection, preservation, and propagation of the salmon fisheries in 
the waters contiguous to the United States and the Dominion of Canada, and in the 
Fraser River System, have resolved to conclude a convention for this purpose, and 
have named as their Plenipotentiaries: 

The President of the United States of America, the Honorable Robert Lansing, 
Secretary of State of the United States of America, and 

His Britannic Majesty, the Honorable Ronald Lindsay, his charge d'affaires at 
Washington, and the Honorable Sir John Douglas Hazen, a Knight Commander of the 
Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Chief Justice of New Bruns- 
wick, and a member of his Privy Council for Canada. 

Who, having exhibited their full powers, found to be in due form, have agreed to 
and signed the following articles: 

Article I. 

The times, seasons, and methods of sockeye-salmon fishing in the waters specified 
in Article III of this Convention, and the nets, engines, gear, apparatus, and appli- 
ances which may be used therein, shall be limited to those which are specified in the 
regulations appended hereto, and/or which may be specified in revised, modified, 
or substituted regulations provided for in Article VI and promulgated in accordance 
with the terms of Article II. 

Article II. 

The High Contracting Parties engage to put into operation and enforce by legislative 
and executive action, with as littl6 delay as possible, the provisions of this convention 
and said regulations, and the date when the said regulations shall be put into oj^era- 
tion, shall be fixed by concurrent proclamations of the President of the United States 
and of the Governor General of the Dominion of Canada in Council. Each of Ihe 
High Contracting Parties may, by appropriate legislation, provide for the trial, con- 
viction, and pimishment within its jurisdiction of any person found there who has 
contravened any of the provisions of this convention, and/or said regulations within 
the jurisdiction of the other High Contracting Party, and who has not been punished 
for such offence within the latter jurisdiction. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 107 

Article III. 

It is acjepfl that the provisions of this convention and of said regulations shall apply 
to the waters included within the following boundaries: 

Beginning at Carnianagh Lighthouse on the southwest coast of Vancouver Island, 
thence in a straight line to a point three marine miles dtie west astronomic from 
Tatoosh Lighthouse, Washington, thence to said Tatoosh Lighthouse, thence to the 
nearest point of Cape Flattery, thence following the southerly shore of Juan de Fuca 
Strait to Point Wilson, on Qtiimper Peninsula, thence in a straight line to Point 
Partridge on \Miidbey Island, thence following the western shore of the said Whid- 
])ey Island, to the entrance to Deception Pass, thence across said entrance to the 
southern side of Reservation Bay, on Fidalgo Island, thence following the western 
and northern shore line of the said Fidalgo Island to Swinomish Slough, crossing the 
said Swinomish Slough in line with the track of the Great Northern Railway, thence 
northerly following the shore line of the mainland to Point Grey at the southern 
entrance to Burrard Inlet, British Columbia, thence in a straight line to the southern 
end of Gabriola Island, thence to the southern side of the entrance to Boat Harbor, 
\'ancouver Island, thence following the eastern and sotithern shores of the said 
\'ancouver Island to the starting point at Carmanagli Lighthouse, as shown on the 
United States Coast and Geodetic Survey ('hart No. G300, as corrected to Jidy 20, 1918, 
and also the Fraser River and its tributaries. 

The High Contracting Parties engage to have prepared, as soon as practicable, 
charts of the waters described in this article, with the international boundary line 
indicated thereon; and to establish such btioys and marks for the jjiirposes of this 
convention as may be recommended by the commission referred to in Article IV. 

AUTICLE IV, 

The High Contracting Parties agree to appoint, within two months after the 
exchange of ratifications of this convention, a commission to be known as the Inter- 
national P'isheries Commission, consisting of four persons, two to be named by each 
party. This commission shall continue to exist so long as this convention shall be in 
force. Each party shall have the power to fill, and shall fill, from time to time, any 
vacancy whicn may occur in its representation on the commission. Each party shall 
pay its own commissioners, and any joint expenses shall be paid by the two High 
Contracting Parties in equal moieties. 

Article V. 

The International Fisheries Commission shall conduct investigations into the life 
history of the salmon, hatchery methods, spawning-ground conditions, and other 
related matters, and shall observe the operation of the said regulations appended 
hereto, and shall recommend to their respective Governments any modifications of, 
additions to, or substitutions for the appended regulations which may be found 
desirable. 

Article VI. 

The regulations appended to this convention shall remain in force for a period of 
eight years from the date of their promulgation, as provided in Article II, and there- 
after until one year from the date when either of the High Contracting Parties shall 
give notice to the other of its desire for their revision, or until the termination of this 
convention, whichever shall first occur. Immediately upon such notice being given, 
the International Fisheries Commission shall proceed to make a re\ision of said regu- 
lations, which revi.sed regulations shall be incorporated in a special agreement between 
the High Contracting Parties. It is understood that such special agreement shall 
on the ])art of the United States be made by the President of the United States, by 
and ^^■ith the ad^^ce and consent of the Senate thereof. Such special agreement shall 
be binding only when confirmed by the two Governments by an exchange of notes. 
Such special agreement shall be promulgated as provided in Article II hereof, and 
shall remain in force for a period of five years and thereafter until one vear from the 
date when a further notice of revision is given as above provided in this article, or 
until the termination of this convention, whichever shall first occur. 

It shall, however, at any time, be in the power of the High Contracting Parties by 
special agreement ujwn the recommendation of the International Fislicries Commis- 
sion, to make modifications of, additions to, or substitutions for any of the regulations 
in fdrce, and (or) to make the provisions of this convention, and any regulations pro- 



108 U, S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

niulgated in accordance with the terms thereof, operative in the waters specified in 
Article III of this convention, as to any or all of the other species of salmon, including 
steelhead. It is understood that such special agreement shall on the part of the 
United States be made by the President of the United States, by and wdth the advice 
and consent of the Senate thereof. Such special agreement shall be binding only when 
confirmed by the two Governments by an exchange of notes. Such special agreement 
shall be promulgated as provided in Article II hereof. 

Article VII. 

This convention shall remain in force for a period of fifteen years, and thereafter 
until two years from the date when either of the High Contracting Parties shall give 
notice to the other of its desire to terminate this convention. 

Article VIII. 

The present convention shall be duly ratified by the President of the United States, 

by and with the advice and consent of the Senate thereof, and by His Britannic 

Majesty, and the ratifications shall be exchanged at Washington as soon as practicable. 

IN FAITH WHEREOF, the respective plenipotentiaries have signed the present 

convention in duplicate and thereimto afhxed their seals. 

Done at the City of Washington this second day of September, in the year one 
thousand iiine hundred and nineteen. 

ROBERT LANSING, (Seal) 
R. C. LINDSAY, (Seal) 

J. D. HAZEN. (Seal) 

APPENDIX. 

international regulation.s for the protection and preservation of the sock- 
eye salmon fisheries of the praser river system. 

Section 1. 

The following regulations shall apply to the waters described in Article III of the 
convention of Fe|)tember 2, 1919, between the United States and Great Britain, to 
which these regulations are appended, to-wit: 

(Here is inserted the description of the waters affected, as already set forth in Article 
III above.) 

Section 2. 

dehnitions. 

"Drift net" shall mean a floating gill net that is neither anchored nor staked, but 
that floats freely with the tide or current. 

"Trap net" shall include a pound net. 

"Commission" shall mean the International Fisheries Commission appointed under 
the convention to which these regulations are appended. 

"Treaty waters" shall mean all waters described in Article III of the c(yivention 
to which these regulations are appended. 

Section 3. 

(a) Fishing for sockeye salmon in the treaty waters within the territorial limits 
of the State of Washington, shall not be permissible except under license from such 
state, and in the treaty waters of Canada except under license under the provisions 
of the fisheries act of Canada. 

(b) No greater number of licenses tor any class of fishing appliance shall be authorized 
in any year in the treaty waters within the territorial limits of the State of Washington 
than were issued for such class for the season of 1918, up to August 31st, inclusive 
thereof, and in the treaty waters of Canada the number of gill nets that may be licensed 
in any year shall not exceed 1,800. 

(c) No license shall be granted to any person or partnership in the State of Wash- 
ington unless such person or each meml)er of such partnership shall be an American 
citizen, resident in said State, and no license shall be granted to any joint-stock com- 
pany or corporation in said State, unless the officers, directors and the holders of a 
majority of the stock thereof, are American citizens, or unless it is authorized to do 
business in the said State; and no license shall be granted to any person, company 
or firm in the Province of British Columbia unless such person is a British subject 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 109 

repident in the said Province, or unless such company or firm is a Canadian company 
or firm, or Ls authorized by the Provincial Government to do business in the said 
Province of British Colum})ia. 

(f/) No one other than a British subject who owns or leases land on either side of the 
Fraser River above New Westminster Bridge, and who actually permanently resides 
on, and is tmltivating such land, shall be eligible for a license to fish for sockeye 
salmon between New Westminster liridge anfl Mission Bridge, but fishing under 
such license shall not be carried on below New Westminster Bridge. 

Section 4. 

The use of nets other than drift nets, purse seines, and trap nets shall not be per- 
mitted in treaty waters for the capture of sockeye salmon. 

Section 5. 

No net fishing or fishing of any kind, other than with hook and line, except for 
hatchery purposes, or scientific purposes, shall be permissible in the Fraser River 
above the down river side of Mission Bridge. 

Section 6. 

During the years 1920 to 1927, both years inclusive, no one shall fish for, catch or 
kill any salmon from the 20th day of July to the 31st day of July in each year, both 
d;ivs inclusive; and during this close time, no nets or appliances of any "kind that 
will capture salmon may be used in these treaty waters; Provided, houenr, That 
salmon fishing for hatchery or scientific purposes may be authorized during this 
period. 

Section 7. 

The weekly close time for salmon fi«hing shall be from six o'clock a. m. Saturday, 
to six o'clock p. m. Sunday, in Canadian waters, excepting in that portion of the 
Fraser River between New Westirduster Bridge and Mission Bridge, wliere the 
weekly close time shall be from six o'clock a. m. Saturday to six o'clock p. m. on the 
following Monday, and in the treaty waters of the United States from Friday at four 
o'clock p. m. to Sunday at four o'clock a. m. and duiing this close time no 
salmon fishing of any kind other than for hatchery or scientific purposes shall 
be permissible, and during the full period of each weekly close time or annual 
close season, each trap net shall be closed by an apron across the outer entrance 
to the heart of the trap, which apron shall extend from the surface to the bottom 
of the water and shall be securely connected to the piles on either side of 
the heart of the trap net, fastened by rings not more than two feet apart on 
taut ■wires stretched from the top to the bottom of the piles, and such apron, 
or the appliance by which it is raised and lowered, shall be proAided with a signal or 
flag, which shall disclose whether the trap net is closed, and which shall be of the 
form and character approved by the commission: Provided, that in addition to the 
foregoing requirement, sucli trap net shall be e(( nipped with a V-shaped opening, to 
the satisfaction of the commissiop, and in the lead of such trap net next to the entrance 
to the heart and immediately adjacent to the apron, of at least ten feet in width at 
the top and extending beiow the surface at least four feet below low water, which V- 
shaped opening shall remain open and unobstructed during the full period of each 
weekly close time or annual close season. For the purposes of assuring full compli- 
ance with this regulation, the owner or operator of each trap net shall constantly main- 
tain dming the weekly and animal close tinie a Avatchman, whose duty it shall be to 
cause each trap net to be kept closed and the lead to be kept open, as above provided. 

Section 8. 

All salmon trap nets shall be limited to a total length of twenty-five hundred feet, 
with an end passagewav of at least six hundred feet between one trap net and the next 
in linear series, such distances being measured in continuation of the line of direction 
of the leader of such tiaji net, but in no instance shall more than two-thirds of the 
width of any pa«!sagewa_\- at any point be clo.sed b}- trap nets. There shall also be a 
lateral distance of at least twenty-four hundred feet between one trap net and the 
next. 

Section 9. 

A salmon purse seine shall not exceed nineteen hundred linear feet in length, in- 
cluding the lead and attachment, measured on the cork line when wet. 



110 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Section 10. 

(o) No purse seine shall be cast or placed in the water for fishins; purposes within 
twenty-four hundred feet of an/ trap net. 

(h) The use of purse seines for the capture of sockeye salmon shall be confined to 
the treaty waters south Vvard and westward of a straight line drawn from the lighthoi 
on Trial Island, British ('olumbia, to the northwest point of Whidbey Island, State 



Juse 

-_ -- - _ -, ., , State of 

Washington. 

Section 11. 



A salmon drift net shall not exceed nine hundred linear feet in length, and the 
vertical breadth thereof shall not exceed sixty meshes, and the si'.e of the mesh shall 
not be less than five and three-fourths inches, extension measure, when in use. 

Had such a treaty been adopted and rigidly enforced 10 or 12 
years ago, it might have had a beneficial effect on the Fraser River- 
Puget Sound sockeye run, but the destruction of the run has pro- 
gressed to such an alarming extent during the past 7 years that only 
a total cessation of all fishing for sockeyes m this section for a 
term of years could have the slightest beneficial effect. The pro- 
posed regulations provide that "during the years 1920 to 1927, 
both years inclusive, no one shall fish for, catch, or kill any salmon 
from the 20th day of July to the 31st day of July in each year, both 
days inclusive; and during this close time nonets or appliances 
of any kind that will capture salmon may bo used in these treaty 
waters * * *." This closed period runs concurrently on both 
sides of the line, and while it would have but a very slight effect if 
the salmon were able to reach the spawning grounds in this short 
period, it certainly can have none if the Canadian gill netters are 
enabled to start fishing just about the time the salmon have reached 
the mouth of the Fraser. 

The only hope of rehabilitating the sockeye run — and some well- 
informed observers have grave doubts whether anything will ever 
accomplish this desirable result — is to close the waters of Puget 
Sound through which the sockeyes pass and the Fraser River during 
the months of July and August or such other period as nlay be neces- 
sary to protect the socke3^es from the time they appjar off the capes 
until they have passed beyond the fishermen on the Fraser River to 
all salmon fishing for a period of 8 or 12 years. As the sockeyes 
are 4-year f.sh — i. e., are born and live in fresh water for about a 
year, then go to sea, and are not observed again until they return in 
the fourth year after birth (a small proportion live to 5 years, and a 
vastly smaller proportion to 6 years), spa%vn on the breeding grounds 
of the Fraser and then die — a closed period of less than 4 years could 
have ho appreciable effect, as it would not be a complete cycle in 
the animiils life, while 8 or 12 years, representing two or three cycles 
of their life, might possibly have a beneficial effect, although the 
experiences of the past show clearly that it is much easier to destroy a 
school of fish than it is to restore a much depleted one. 

DECREASE IN HUMPBACK SALMON CATCH. 

Another unfortunate condition has developed as a result of exces- 
sive fishing in Puget Sound of recent 3^ears, and that is the heavy 
decline in the catcli of humpback salmon. These fish are caught in 
the same apparatus as used for sockeyes. 

For many years the humpbacks came in countless numbers, and 
the fishermen were able to sell but a small part of the catch. Despite 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



Ill 



this, they persisted in catching them and many thousands were killed 
and thrown away during the years when the run appeared in the 
sound. This ruthless and senseless slaughter finally nad its natural 
result, and ahout four years ago a heavy decline was observed in 
the catch of that year, and this decline has steadily increased since, 
with the result that to-day there are grave doubts as to whether the 
run can be preserved even in its impaired condition. The only hope 
is that the prohibition of all salmon fishing during the months of 
July and August may be adopted, which would prevent fishing for 
either sockeyes or humpbacks, ooth of which run during these months. 

PACKS BY CANADIAN AND AMERICAN CANNERS. 

Many people on both sides of the boundary line have been under the 
impression that the American fishermen on Puget Sound have been 
by far the greatest offenders in so far as the quantity of sockeye 
salmon taken has been concerned, but a table " prepared by Mr. 
J. P. Babcock, assistant to the Commissioner of Fisheries of British 
Columbia, does not bear this out. Previous to 1891 most of the fish- 
ing was done by British Columbia fishermen. The table follows: 



Year. 



1891 

lSit2 
IS'.U 
1WJ4 
IS'JS 
1S96 
1WI7 
1S9S 
1S99 
19()0 
1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 



Canadian 


American 


waters. 


waters. 


Cases. 


Cases. 


176,954 


5,538 


79,715 


2,954 


457,797 


47,852 


363,967 


41,791 


395,984 


65,143 


356,984 


72,979 


860,459 


312,048 


256, 101 


252,000 


480,485 


499,646 


229,800 


228,704 


928,669 


1,105,096 


293,477 


339,556 


204,809 


167,211 


72,688 


123,419 


837,489 


847,122 


183,007 


182,241 



Total. 



Cases. 
182,492 
82,669 
505,649 
405,758 
461,127 
429,963 

1,172,507 
608, 101 
980,131 
458,504 

2,033,765 
633,033 
372,020 
196,107 

1,684,611 
365,248 



Year. 



1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Canadian 
waters. 



Cases. 

62,617 

74,574 

585,435 

150,432 

62, 817 

123,879 

736,661 

198,183 

91,130 

27,394 

148, 164 

19,697 

34,063 



Total.. 8,493,431 



American 
waters. 



Cases. 
96,974 

155,218 
1,005,120 

234,437 

126,950 

183,896 
1,664,827 

336,251 
64,581 
78,476 

411,538 
50,723 
64,346 



8,766,640 



Total. 



Cases. 
159,591 
229.792 

1,590,555 
384,869 
189,767 
307, 775 

2,401,488 
534,434 
155,714 
105,870 
559,702 
70,420 
98,409 



17,260,071 



METHODS OF PREPARING SALMON. 

CANNING. 



EARLY DAYS OF THE INDUSTRY. 

In the salmon industry canning is and has been almost from the 
time of the discovery of a feasible method of so preserving the hsh, 
the principal branch. The first canning of salmon on the Pacific 
coast was on the Sacramento River in 1864, when G. W. and William 
Hume and Andrew S. Hapgood, operating under the firm name of 
Hapgood, Hume & Co., started the work on a scow at Washington, 
Yolo County, Calif. The Hume brothers, who came from Maine 
originally, had been fishing for salmon in the Sacramento River for 
some years before the idea of canning the fish had entered their 
minds, while Mr. Hapgood had previously been engaged in canning 
lobsters in Maine, and was induced by the Humes to participate in 

a Frascr lUver Salmon Situation: A Reclamation Project. By John Pease Babcock. Appendix V, 
Report. British Cokimbia Commissioner of Fisheries for the year ending Dec. 31, 1919, p. 3. Victoria, 
British Columbia, 1920. 



112 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

order that they might have the henefit of his knowledge of canning 
methods. The late R. D. Hume, who worked in the original cannery 
and later became one of the best-known canners on the coast, thus 
describes the plant and the methods employed:'* 

Before the arrival of Mr. Hapgood (from Maine) the Hume brothers had purchased 
a large scow, on which they proposed to do the canning of salmon, and had added 
an extension to the cabin 18 by 24 feet in area, to be used as a can-making shop. This 
had a shed on the side next to the river for holding any cans that might be made in 
advance of the packing season. A few days after the arrival of Mr. Hapgood (Mar. 
23. 1864 ). the tools and machinery were packed and put in position. Mr. Hapgood 
made some stovepipe and two or three sheet-iron fire pots, and in a short time was ready 
for can making. The following list of tools and machinery will show how primitive 
our facilities were as compared with present methods: 1 screw hand press, 1 set cast- 
iron top dies, 1 set cast-iron bottom dies, 1 pair squaring shears, 1 pair rotary shears, 
1 pair bench shears, 1 pair hand shears or snips, 1 pair 24-inch rolls, 1 anvil (weight 
50 pounds), 1 forging hammer, 1 tinner's hammer, 1 set punches for making stovepipe, 
I rivet set. 1 grooving set, 2 iron slabs grooved on one side to mold strips of solder, 1 
iron clamp to hold bodies of cans while soldering the seams, 1 triangular piece of cast 
iron about three-eighths of an inch in thickness and 6 inches in length, with a wooden 
handle attached to the apex, also used for holding can bodies in place while being 
seamed . 

The process of canning was as follows: The bodies of the cans were first cut to proper 
size by the squaring shears, a line was then scribed with a gauge about three-sixteenths 
of an inch from one edge, and they were next formed into cylindrical shape by the rolls. 
They were then taken to the soldering bench and one edge lapped by the other until 
the edge met the line that had been scribed and fastened there by being soldered a 
small part of the length to hold them in place for the further purpose of seaming. 
They were then placed either in the iron clamp, which had a piece of wood attached to 
its underside, and held firmly, the clamp being closed by the operation of a treadle, 
or were slipped on a piece of wood, which was bolted to the bench, while being held 
in place by the triangular hand seamer, which was pressed down on the lap of the seam 
by the left hand of the operator. W hen this had been done a piece of solder, which 
had been prepared by shaking in a can together with rosin, was placed on the seam 
and melted and rubbed lengthwise of the seam. After cooling the bodies were ready 
for the end or bottom, which operation was brought about by first cutting out circular 
blanks \\ath the rotary shears, and then placing them in the cast-iron die and bringing 
the handle of the screw press around with a swing with force enough to form up the 
end or bottom. In this operation there were many difficulties, as the ends or bottoms 
would many times stick to the upper part of the die and refuse to come off, and finger 
nails were pretty short in those days. To get the ends out of the lower part of the die 
was not so bad, as a wooden plunger operated by a treadle knocked them out, but some- 
times they were in pretty bad shape. When the bottoms or ends were ready they were 
slipped on the bodies and the edge of the bottom rolled about in a pan of powdered 
rosin until the seam was well dusted. A piece of solder similar in size and preparation 
as used for the side seam was placed in the can. They were then placed on the smooth 
side of the cast-iron slabs, and the operator, with a hot soldering copper shaped to fit 
the circle of the can, melted the solder and by turning the can rapidly soldered the 
full circumference. The output of this can factory was very imperfect, as at least 
one-half of the seams burst, owing to the lack of experience of the manager or >'-an* of 
good judgment. 

When the can making was well underway Mr. Hapgood then turned his attention 
to getting the apparatus for canning on board the house-boat. This in the cooking 
department consisted of a kettle made of boiler iron about 36 inches in diameter and 
6 feet in depth, set in a brick furnace and fired from underneath. Alongside was a 
round-bottom, cast-iron pot holding about 60 gallons of water and heated in the same 
manner. These kettles, with a dozen coolers or circular sheet-iron pans with ropes 
attached and with holes cut in the bottoms for drainage, a set of 5-inch blocks and tackle, 
with a sheet-iron fire pot and a scratch awl, completed the bathroom outfit. The 
can filling and soldering room wae furnished with a table through the center, where 
cutting the salmon in pieces to suit and the filling of the cans was done. On each side 
of the room there was a bench running the full length, on the end of one of which the 
cans were placed to receive the pickle, which was used at that time instead of the small 
quantity of salt that is placed m the cans during the operations of these later days 

o The First Salmon Cannery. By K. D. Hume. Pacific Fisberman, VoL II, No. 1, January, 1904, pp. 
19-21. 





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PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 113 

\Mi'r the salmon had been cleaned by remo\ing the entrails and washing them oiit- 
li Ic the rovpred portion of the scow, they were brought inside and placed on the table, 
11(1 a man u-ith a butcher knife in one hand and a stick in the other, which had a mark 
I lowing the length of the pieces desired, cut gashes in the side of the salmon as a 
^qiiile and then cut the fish into sections corresponding to the length of the mark on 
the stick. He then proceeded to cut the sections in pieces to suit the cans. Then 
three or four operators placed the salmons in the cans and shoved them along the table 
to where a boy Avipcd the top edge and passed them along to two others who placed 
tops which fitted inside of the rim. The cans were then taken in wooden trays to 
the bench opposite the starting point, which was fitted with four sheet-iron pots, 
and at the one nearest the entrance to the house on the scow a man put a soldering 
flux on the top edge, which was made by adding zinc to muriatic acid, and then with 
a pointed soldering copper and a stick of solder melted the solder until a small portion 
could be dran-n around the groove formed by the edge of the can and the bevel of the 
top. From there the cans were taken to the other parts of the bench, where two men 
finished soldering the head in, and then taken to the third man, who soldered, or, as it 
was called, buttoned, the end of tlie seam lap. The cooking department or bathroom, 
as it was called, was separated from the filling and soldering room by a partition. 
The cans were shoved through a hole in the partition. 

At this time the process was a secret. Mr. Hapgood did the cooking and all the 
work done inside, no one but a member of the firm being allowed to go in. This 
privacy was continued until the firm moved to the Columbia River, and, the labor 
becoming too arduous for Mr. Hapgood to perform alone, a boy by the name of Charlie 
Taylor was taken in as an assistant. * * * 

But to return to the original proposition: When the filled cans had been soldered 
and entered the bathroom they were put in the coolers and lowered into the cast- 
iron pot, one cooler of cans being cooked at a time. The cooler was lowered into the 
boiling fresh water until the cans were submerged to within 1 inch of the top ends and 
left to cook for one hour; then they were hoisted out and the vent holes in the center 
of the top soldered up, after which they were dumped into the boiler-iron kettle, 
which held a solution of salt and water of density sufficient to produce, when boiling, 
a heat of 228° to 230'' F. They were cooked in this solution for one hour and then 
taken out of the kettle \vith an iron scoop shaped like a dip net, with a wooden handle 
about 6 feet in length. They were dumped into a tank of water on the other side of the 
partition which separated the bathroom from the packing room through an opening 
m the partition, receiving many a bump and bruise in the operation. Then they 
were washed with soap and rag to remove the dirt and grease, each can being handled 
separately. When this was done they were piled on the iloor of the packing room 
and in a few days were painted with a mixture of red lead, turpentine, and linseed 
oil, for at that time buyers would have no canned salmon, no matter how good the 
quality, unless the cans were painted red. 

When packs of 10,000 to 15,000 cases were made in a season 
only the absolutely essential machinery was used, the rest of the 
work, such as cutting and cleaning the fish and placing them in the 
cans, being done by hand. "When larger canneries were constructed, 
especially in Alaska, where labor is expensive and difficult to obtain, 
the greater part of the workmen having to be brought up from the 
States, machinery to do as much as possible of the work became 
absolutely essential. The inventive genius of the country came to 
the rescue and one by one machines for cutting, sliming, and 
cleaning the fish, filling the cans, putting the tops on, and washing 
them were invented and put into use, while automatic weighing 
machines were produced and extensive improvements and alterations 
were made in the machines previously in use. There are to-day 
many large manufacturing establishments which devote all or the 
greater part of their facilities to furnishing machinery and supplies 
to this giant branch of the salmon industry. 

When salmon canning was in its infancy, a pack of from 150 to 200 
cases was considered a good day's work. Now it is not an uncommon 
occurrence for a cannery to turn out from 2,500 to 4,000 cases in one 
day, and there are a number which have even greater capacity, 
11312°— 21 8 



114 U. S. BUREAU or FISHERIES. 

The usual method of figuring the capacity of a salmon cannery is 
by the number of lines or units employed. The machinery arranged 
so that the fish pass through all the operations from filling to double 
seaming is known as a line, and the capacity is based upon the number 
of these lines in use in the plant. 

During the height of the salmon run, a cannery is an exceedingly 
busy and interesting place, and a description of the methods used at 
the present time will show the giant strides the industry has made 
since the days of Hapgood, Hume & Co. 

HANDLING THE SALMON. 

At convenient spots near the fishing grounds large scows and 
lighters are anchored and the fishing crews deliver their catches 
aboard these, the tallyman on each scow keeping a record and giving 
the crew a receipt. Men fishing near the cannery deliver their catch 
alongside. Steamers and launches are used to tow out empty scows 
and bring in those filled. In the old days the fish were pitched by 
hand into bins on the wharves, but this laborious method has been 
superseded by the use of an elevator, which extends from a short dis- 
tance above the top of the wharf to the water's ed^e, provision being 
made for raising or lowering the lower end accordmg to the stage of 
the tide. This elevator is slanting, and is made of an endless chain 
operating in a shallow trough. About every 2 feet there is attached 
to the chain a crosspiece of wood. At the top of the elevator are 
chutes which deliver the fish at various convenient spots on the 
cutting-room floor. 

A recent invention, which is rapidly coming into use, is the un- 
loading scow. This is a scow divided by kid boards into compart- 
ments. On the side is an opening which, when not in use, is closed 
by planks dropped into grooves. The filled scow is run alongside an 
elevator with a flaring mouth box at the lower end. A chute is 
placed between the scow, opposite the door, and the elevator, the 
door opened, and the fish allowed to slide by gravity into the box, 
then up the elevator to the fish floor. As one compartment is emptied 
another is attacked by removing the partition boards, and so on until 
the scow is empty. Should the fish stick, a hose with running water 
is run a foot or more down into the pile, which loosens the fish and 
causes them to move freely. By the use of these scows the fish are 
unloaded in a very short time, with but little labor, and are not 
marked by pew holes, as under the old method. 

If the salmon have been in the scows for from 20 to 24 hours they 
are used as soon as possible after being delivered at the cannery; 
otherwise that length of time is usually allowed to elapse, the can- 
nerymen claiming that if not allowed to shrink the fish will be in such 
condition that when packed much juice will be formed, and light- 
weight cans will be produced. The danger of canning fish Vhat are 
too fresh, however, is of minor importance as compared with the 
tendency in the other direction. 

Before dressing the fish a stream of water is kept playing over them 
in order to remove tl)e dirt and slime, after which men with pews 
separate the different species into piles. 



I 




PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 115 



DRESSING. 



A number of the small eanneries still use the old hand method of 
dressing the tish, and in such places the selection of the butchering 
or dressing gangs is of prime importance. Two men constitute a 
"butcher's gang," and the number of these gangs is dependent upon 
the output of the plant. Boys place the fish, with the head out, 
upon the cutting tables. One man cuts off the heads, and is followed 
by another who removes the fins, tails, and viscera. The offal is 
thrown into a chute, whence it passes into the water under the 
cannery or into a scow moored underneath, while the dressed fish is 
transferred to a tank of water, to be scaled, washed, and scraped. 
It is then passed to another tank of water, where it receives a second 
washing, scraping, and final brushing with a whisklike broom, which 
removes any offal, blood, and scales that were overlooked in the first 
washing, after which it is removed to large bins on either side of the 
cutting machine. 

The most useful cannery inventions in recent years have been of 
machines for doing the work of the dressing gangs. The one com- 
monly known as the "Iron Chink," now in general use in canneries 
where such machines are employed, was first used in 1903 at Fair- 
haven (now Bellingham), Wash. It removes the head, tail, and fins 
and opens and thoroughly cleans the fish ready to cut into pieces for 
the cans. By the use of these machines the dressing gang is almost 
entirely done away with, dispensing with 15 to 20 men. This same 
machine is now so arranged that the fish after dressing are also 
"slimed;" i. e., the thick mucus covering the skin removed, and the 
inside of the fish cleaned. 

CUTTING. 

The usual method of cutting the salmon is by a machine. This is 

fenerally a large wooden cylindrical carrier, elliptical in shape, thus 
aving a larger carrying capacity. Ledges or rests on the outside 
the length of the carrier are wide enough to hold the fish, and are 
slit in cross section through the ledges and outer casmg to receive 
the gang knives. The latter are circular, fixed on an axle at the 
proper distances apart, and revolve at the highest point reached by 
the carrier and independently of the latter. The carrier and gang 
knives are set in motion, each revolving on its own shaft. As a rest 
on the carrier coraies to a horizontal position, men stationed at the 
fish bins lay a fish on each ledge as it passes. Thence it is conveyed 
to the revolving gang knives and, after being divided, passes through 
on the downward course, sliding off the rest into the filling chute. 
The knives in these machines are so arranged as to cut the fish 
transversely in sections the exact length of the cans to be filled. 

TTie rotary cutter shunts the tail pieces to one side, and these are 
carried by means of a chute to baskets. The tail pieces are generally 
canned separately. As the tail portion is much smaller, with less 
meat, it can not be placed in the cans with the middle and head 
sections without detracting from their value, but if packed under a 
distinct and separate label, as is now done, there is no reason why 
the tails should not supply the demand for a cheap grade of fish. 

In some of the smaller canneries, especially in those packing flat 
cans, the gang knives are worked by hand. In this case, the knives 
are not circular, but elongated or semicircular in shape, tapering at 



116 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

the outer ends. They are mounted on an axle having a large iron 
lever at one end, and when this lever is raised the ends of the gang 
knives are thrown up and back. The fish is then placed in position 
under them and the lever pulled forward, the knives, with a scimitar- 
like movement, dividing the fish. 

The original method of cutting was by means of a long knife 
wielded by a Chinaman who stood at a regular butcher's block. 
Although his strokes were incredibly quick, the rotary cutting 
machine is a vast improvement over the old way. 

SALTING. 

Every can of salmon is seasoned with one-fourth of an ounce of 
salt, which, to insure uniformity, is added by mechanical means. A 
table is used, in the top of which are holes equal distances apart. 
On the underside of the top is a sheet-iron plate, with an equal 
number of holes, which slides in a groove at the sides, and is worked 
either by a hand or foot lever. Just below is an open space large 
enough to accommodate a tray holding 36 or 48 cans. A workman 
stands in front of the table and slides a tray of cans into the open 
space. He then throws a quantity of salt upon the table and im- 
mediately scrapes this off with a thin piece of wood, each hole being 
filled in the operation, and the salt being prevented from falling 
through by the iron plate underneath. The lever is then pressed, the 
iron plate moves forward until the holes in it are directly under the 
holes in the table top, when the salt drops through into the cans. 
This operation can be repeated four or five times in a minute. Most 
canneries now use a small salter attached to the filling machine and 
this deposits the required amount in the can as it is passing by on 
its way to be filled. 

FILLING THE CANS. 

Most canneries now use filling machines for all sizes of cans, al- 
though a few, more particularly those packing flat and odd-sized 
cans, still fill by hand. 

The filhng machine consists of a chute with a belt to which are 
attached wire racks about 4 inches apart, set at an angle to prevent 
the salt from spilling out, into which the salted cans are fed from the 
floor above and pass into the machine. At the same time the divided 
sections of salmon pass down another chute into the mouth of what 
looks like a hand coffee mill. The> pass through here down a smaller 
chute and are forced by two dogs into a receptacle through which 
the plunger, or filler, passes. Here the plunger comes opposite the 
open mouth of the empty can, which when it reaches this point is 
caught by a clasp or hook and held in front of the plunger, which is 
immediately thrust forwatd through a chamber filled with salmon, 
cutting the fish longitudinally and at the same time filling the can. 
The next movement forces the can out upon a table. When running 
at full speed, one of these machines wiU fill about 80 cans a minute. 

On being released by the clamp and rolling upon the table they 
are righted by a workman and pushed onto an endless belt, upon 
which they pass into the weighing machine. If of the proper weight, 
they pass through this machine, but if below the required weight 
the cans are shunted to one side, where workers add the quantity of 
fish needed, a supply of small bits being kept at hand for this pui-- 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 117 

pose. Generally the cans overrun in weight, frequently as much as 
2 or 3 ounces. Occasionally a can is weighed on a small balance 
scales in order to see that the machine is in perfect adjustment. 

After passing the weighing machine any bones and scraps of flesh 
whicli may be sticking up out of the can are clipped away by workers 
armed with scissors. 

In the hand method the fillers stand on each side of a lono^ table 
with a trough running down the middle from end to end. This is 
filled with the cut pieces of salmon, and the fillers, usually women 
antl children, put large pieces into the cans at first and then smaller 
pieces to occupy the vacant spaces. 

From the weighing machine the cans pass to the clinching machine, 
which attaches the top of the can loosely to the body in such a way 
that it allows the air m the can to escape, yet prevents the fish from 
coming in direct contact with the steam of the exhaust box. Also 
the water resulting from the condensation of steam, which accumu- 
lates in the exhaust box, is kept from entering the can and thus 
bleaching the flesh. 

In many plants the cans are washed by jets of water or steam 
directed against them in a closed box as they are passing from the 
clincher to the exhaust box. 

The cans then pass into a steam exhauster, consisting in one type 
of a box about 30 feet in length, in which are three endless-chain belts 
running side by side. Under and over each belt are steam coils, and 
under each of the lower coils are single pipes, which through small 
holes throw jets of live steam upon the coils, creating an intense 
heat. The cans pass along the first belt, are then transferred to the 
second belt, on which they return to the entrance of the box, whence 
they pass to the third belt, and continuing along this to the end 
pass out to the double seamer, the whole operation occupying from 
5 to 15 minutes, preferably 15. One style of exhauster has 10 ovals 
formed by the pipe, and the cans pass along these from side to side 
of the exhauster until discharged at the far end. Another type is 
formed of a long tube through which the cans pass and are heated by 
pei'forated steam pipes. Upright exhausters, in which the cans travel 
along a spiral, are also in use. By this means the contents of the can 
are heated and the greater part of the air exhausted, which is the 
object of the first cooking in the retort under the method formerly in 
general use. In Alaska, where 1 -pound tall cans form the bulk of the 
pack, the cans are exhausted at a temperature from 206° to 212° F., 
210° being the favorite. 

A recent invention, which the inventor claims will do away with 
the steam exhaust box, and thus save a large amount of valuable 
floor space in the canning "line," is the power vacuum pump, known 
as vacuum exhausting machine, by means of which air is exhausted 
from the cans, accomplishing the same purpose as the steam exhaust 
box. Some of these machines have been in active use for several 
seasons, with most satisfactory results. 

Leaving the exhauster the cans pass to the double seamer, which 
fastens the cover on tightly with a double seam or crimp. It should 
be stated that no solder is used in attaching the top on the can, the 
curled flanges of the cover being coated around the outer edge with 
cement or other sealing fluid to take its place. Solder, however, is 
used in joining the side seam of the can, this being done when the can 



lis TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

is manufactured. The cans then leave the machine on an endless 
conveyer, pass through a machine which washes the outside of the 
cans, and thence to the men who transfer them to the coolers, which 
are immediately placed upon the trucks and run into the retort for 
the one cooking they are to receive. By the use of these cans the 
soldering machine used in the old-style method is done away with. 
It also does away with the first cooking and the subsequent venting 
and soldering, a saving both in labor and time consumed. 

COOKING. 

The processing time varies in each district and sometimes for each 
species. In Alaska 1 -pound tall reds, cohos, chums, and pinks are 
generally cooked from 90 to 120 minutes, at 12 to 18 pounds pressure 
and at a temperature of 242° to 248° F. One-pound flats and half- 
pound cans are generally cooked about 10 minutes less time. Owing 
to their larger bones, king salmon are generally cooked from 10 to 20 
minutes longer than the other species; steelhead trout also. 

On Puget Sound 1 -pound tall sockeyes, cohos, and pinks are gener- 
ally cooked for 90 minutes at a pressure of 10 pounds and at a tem- 
perature of 240° F. Halves and 1 -pound flats are generally cooked 
at the same temperature but for only 80 minutes. Chum tails are 
generally cooked for 105 minutes at a pressure of 10 pounds and at 
a temperature of 240°; while spring or king salmon are cooked for 
120 mmutes at a pressure of 10 pounds and at a temperature of 240°. 

It is the custom at all canneries, no matter what the system, to 
allow about 5 minutes at the beginning of the cooking to work up 
the required heat of the retort, and when cooking is completed there 
is a like period for reducing the temperature and pressure before 
opening the doors. The cooking times given above are exclusive of 
the two 5-minute periods noted here. 

It should be distinctly understood that the processing times noted 
are only approximate. The condition of the fish, the weather^ 
whether hot or cold, rainy or dry— etc., all must be taken into account. 
The canner can not go far astray, however, if he keeps generally 
within the narrow margins noted above. In the early days much 
secrecy and mystery was thrown about the cooking, and the work 
was carried on in a separate room, known as the "bathroom," 
under lock and key. The first cooking was done in common tubs. 
The early retorts were made of wood. Later, round iron kettles 
were substituted, nearly one-half consisting of cover, and round 
crates were used for holding the cans. At the present time only 
rectangular horizontal iron or steel retorts are used, and access to 
these is had by means of miniature railroad tracks. 

For many years cannery men believed that the double cooking of 
salmon was absolutely necessary, but in 1898 F. A. Seufert, at his 
cannery on the Columbia River, at Seuferts, Oreg., a short distance 
above The Dalles, discarded this idea, and has since used a one- 
cooking method. Bj the new process the cans are tested for leaks 
after the center hole in the top is soldered up, as before, and are left 
in the retort 70 minutes at 245° F. and 12 pounds steam pressure. 
According to its originator, this method saves more than one-half 
the labor in the bathroom, saves nearly one-half the labor in washing 
the cans after cooking, and also better retains the color of the fish. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 110 

REPAIRING CANS. 

Imperfect cans which are discovered after cooking and are repaired 
at once and whose contents arc recooked are still very good, the onl}' 
difficulty being that by blowing or venting them a second time they 
lose weight. The above goods usually go in with the regular pack 
of their kind and are not classed as regular "do-overs." The latter 
were generally defective cans, which, owing to pressure of other work, 
could not be repaired until considerable time had elapsed, by which 
time decomposition had set in. The cans which can not be repaired 
immediately are now thrown onto the cannery dump. 

On coming from the retort the coolers are lowered into a bath 
of lye, or, as in some canneries, the cans are run through such a 
bath on an endless belt, which, with the aid of a slight rinsing and a 
few rubs with a brush over the top, removes from the can all the 
grease and other material. The belt then passes th(^m into another 
bath where the lye is washed off in hot fresh water. The cans then 
go to the cooling room, where a stream of water is played upon them, 
or during rainy weather are placed out of doors upon the wharf, and 
there allowed to cool, in order to stop the heat inside the can from 
continuing to cook the fish. In some canneries the lye bath before 
cooling is dispensed with, as the earlier washings are supposed to 
have cleaned the cans. 

The top and bottom of the cans contract in cooling, and for several 
hours a sharp popping noise is heard. Here, as in nearly every proc- 
ess tlirou^h which they pass, the cans are again tested, this time by 
tapping the tops with a small piece of iron about 6 inches long, or, 
sometimes, a 12-penny nail. The sound conveys to the ear of the 
tester an unmistakable meaning as to the condition of the can, and 
the faulty cans that escape notice during the other tests are almost 
invariably found in this one. 

LACQUERING. 

A common custom in the salmon-canning industry, but one 
that is not common in the canning of vegetables, fruits, etc., is that 
of lacquering the cans. This idea of protecting the can on the 
outside has been followed from the very oeginning, for two reasons: 
(1) That the English market which, at that time especially, absorbed 
the greater part of these goods insisted on their shipments being 
finished in this way, and (2) from the fact, as these canners speedily 
found out, that if they did not protect their cans in some way enor- 
mous losses through rust would ensue. 

The first experiment of this nature was to paint the cans by hand 
with red paint, treating each singly. Next a composition of logwood 
extract and alcohol was tried, which, however, did not produce satis- 
factory results for a very plain reason — the can was dyed instead of 
being lacquered. The next attempt was to varnish the cans with a 
japan varnish reduced with alcohol, but this was found to dry too 
slowly for speedy handling. After extended experimentation tlvj 
quick-drying brown lacquer of the present time was evolved, which 
carries asphaltum in the form of an asphalt varnish as its base, this 
being supplanted in some cases by gilsonite. This lacquer can be pro- 
cured in either a heavy or light body, is generally reduced with ben- 



120 tr. S. SUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

zene or gasoline, and is applied according to the requirements of the 
market, which in some localities demands a heavy coating and in 
others a much lighter finish, the latter giving a rich golden brown 
color. Some experiments have also been made in using brighter col- 
ored lacquers for this work. Several of these, made to give a bright 
golden, copper, or other color, are extremely attractive in appearance, 
while at the same time protecting the tin against rust quite as well 
as the brown. 

The industry soon outgrew the hand method of lacquering, and the 
process which for a number of years was universal in the trade and 
is still used by some canneries succeeded it. For this there are a 
number of rectangular box vats about 40 by 80 inches and 18 inches in 
depth, the number varying with the capacity of the cannery. These 
ar(^ usually lined with galvanized metal and provided with a grid- 
iron-shaped iron frame, hung from a windlass or other tackle for 
lifting or lowering from top to bottom of the vat. The cans are 
loaded on this gridiron, being placed in an inclined position to allow 
the draining of the lacquer, and are lowered in the vat sufficiently to 
submerge them in the lacquer with which the vat is charged to a 
depth of 7 to 1 inches. The loaded gridiron is then raised to the 
top of the vat and the cans allowed to drain and dry before piling. 
This method, while being more effective in regard to the volume of 
w^ork, was still of necessity a very slow and tedious operation. In 
damp or rainy weather, especially when it is not possible to open 
warehouse doors and windows, the gas arising from a number of 
these vats makes effective drying almost impossible. 

Another principal objection to this method of lacquering, which 
applied also to all earlier attempts, w^as the impossibility of obtaining 
an even coat of lacquer when the can was allowed to dry in any 
stationary position. There was also a large waste by evaporation. 

Notwithstanding repeated efforts at invention, however, it was not 
until 1901 that an effective machine for handling this difficult w^ork 
was put on the market. The apparatus now in use by a number of 
canneries receives the cans on a revolving wheel fitted with rests for 
holding them while passing through the lacc[uer bath. From here 
they roll upon an endless chain which revolves the cans as they pass 
through a long box in which a hot blast dries them before they reach 
the end of the machine. The rotating or rolling motion given to the 
can after the lacquer bath, preventing the lacquer from draining to 
and consequently accumulating on any part of its surface, also has 
the effect of distributing the lacquer evenly and results in a clean 
and neatly finished can. The air blast facilitates the work of drying 
to such an extent that it requires only about two minutes after being 
deposited on the drying bed of the machine for the cans to be ready 
for handling, while the qilantity of cans which can be handled in a 
day is vastly greater than by the old method. 

A few flat and oval cans are not lacquered, but are protected from 
rust by wrapping in tissue paper, over which the label is placed. 

Several of the largest operators have stopped lacquering the 
sides of the cans, depending upon the label to protect this portion 
from rust. Enameled ends are used, and, as these are bought from 
can makers, these operators are thus enabled to get away entirely 
from the dangers of lacquering. 



* 



U. S. B. F. — Doc. 902. 




FIG. 33.— SALMON ON THE FLOOR OF THE FISH HOUSE. 




FIG. 34.— SALMON CAN-LABELING MACHINE. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 121 



LABELINQ. 



While machines have been made for this purpose, and some of 
them are in use, the work is usually done by hand. A number of men 
or women seat themselves about 4 feet apart in front of the pile of 
cans. Each man has in front of him a packa<^e of several hundred 
labels, and by bunchinji; them on a slant so that successive margins pro- 
trude beyond each preceding, he can apply paste to the entire number 
with one stroke of the brush. A can is placed on the label, is quickly 
rolled, and the label is on much quicker than one can tell it. Each 
man places to his right the cans he labels, forming a pile of length and 
width equal to his unlabeled pile, and when the entire lot has been 
labeled it has been shifted only about 4 feet. Cans of fancy brands 
of salmon put up on the Columbia River and in the Puget .Sound 
region are wrapped in colored tissue paper before the label is put on. 
Cartons similar to those used by the sardine packers would make good 
containers for fancy brands and would be much cheaper than the 
present method. 

Some of the canners now have their labels lithographed directly 
on the tin, and the whole covered with a transparent la quer. 

Several attempts have been made to popularize salmon packed in 
glass and porcelain jars, and while these have met with some favor, 
it was not sufficient to warrant a continuance of the practice for any 
length of time. But few are being so packed at the present time. 

BRANDS, 

A very important feature of the canning industry is the selection 
of appropriate brands or labels for the various grades of salmon. 
Each company has a number of these, which it has acquired either 
by designing them or by absorbing another company which owned 
them. A well-known brand has a value in itself and sometimes is 
a very important asset. A company will sometimes market a con- 
siderable part of its product in one section, and here, where the 
consumer nas become familiar with the brand and pleased with the 
contents of the can, he will ask for and accept no other, despite the 
lact that the latter might be, and probably is, the equal of the 
product he has been using. 

For many years but few salmon canners appreciated the value of a 
can label, and it has taken some bitter experiences to drive home to 
the rest that a properly designed label placed upon good goods and 
the owner protected in its use by the law has real value, just as much 
as boats, nets, buildings, machinery, or the thousand and one material 
things required to carry on the business. 

A free trade defhiition of a label would be that it is an artistic 
representation or intellectual production, stamped directly upon an 
article of manufacture, or upon a slip or piece of paper or other 
material, to be attached in any manner to manufactured articles, to 
bottles, boxes, and packages contauiing them, to indicate the contents 
of the package, the name of the manufacturer, or the place of niaim- 
facture, the quality and quantity of the goods, directions for use. etc. 

Labels are subject to the copyright law and should be registei-ed 
before use or publication. If not registered, there is no protection 
in law against infringement. The continued use of a label, however, 



122 tr. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

will give the person so using a certain proprietary right in it, which 
can be enforced in a court of equity and may be defended by injunc- 
tions, which will generally be granted. Such proceedings are expen- 
sive, annoying to a busy man, and at best will protect one only after 
at least a certain amount of damage has been done, and it is far safer 
to avoid this by registering the label at the time of issue, which will 
give one the further advantage in that a description of the character 
and quality of the article labeled can be set forth, which will, to a 
certam extent at least, be protected with the label. 

The commercial value of a label and name is represented by the 
more or less general demand for the goods protected by it. In the 
canned-salmon industry, as in that of other food-packing industries, 
certain labels, through the good quality of the goods marketed under 
them and the publicity created for them, have become of very con- 
siderable value to the owners. A case in point is the label Royal 
Crown, owned by the late R. D. Hume. This was one of the earliest 
brands marketed in England, and some years later a certain Liver- 
pool firm of salmon handlers paid Mr. Hume the sum of $10,000 for 
the exclusive right to its use in England. 

In designing a label there are several things which should be borne 
in mind. It should bear an easily remembered name and design; a 
name difficult of pronunciation should be avoided at all costs. For 
many years glaring red labels have been popular, but the success met 
with by those using more subdued and artistic designs and coloring 
indicates that the public appreciate them more than they do the 
older and coarser types. The design should be as simple as possible, 
as experience has demonstrated that a simple form — so s mple that 
it can be full}' understood by a mere glance — will gain by regular 
repetition, while a more complicated design will lose in this process. 
A good many now in the business still remember the small label 
that was used on salmon cans before 1870. Labels about 3 by 5 
inches in size, printed in one color, on white or colored newspaper, 
served merely the purpose of distinguishing cans, telling contents 
and manufacturer, and were without commercial value. About the 
year 1870 a few canners commenced to import from the East and 
Europe full-sized labels, i. e., labels that went all around the can. 
These were called by some "Pennington" labels, as a firm of that 
name supplied quite a number of them. 

For some years they were used for the best grades only. They 
were printed in four and five colors, the design showing invariably 
a number of panels of different shapes and sizes. The lettering was 
not always plain and sometimes even intentionally irregular and 
puzzling. The colors were placed side by side, in boldest contrast, 
without any attempt to harmonize them. 

It was soon discovered that the highly colored panels, while strik- 
ing, lost all effect when massed on the retailer's shelves, and the 
different brands looked so much alike that the individual designs 
could not well be remembered by the customer, the only really dis- 
thictive feature being the name, and that was generally printed so 
small and indistinct that it could not be readily seen at a distance. 

To remedy these defects, the designers soon reduced the number of 
panels and subdivisions, increasing meanwhile the size of the remain- 
mg ones and filling them with distinctive desiras, still colored as 
sim.ply as before, with no attempt at blending of colors. The back- 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 123 

ground, at first perfectly plain, commenced to show patterns more or 
less complicated, and at times quite pretentious, so as to take away 
from the design proper. 

Gradually the paneJ design disappeared. In place of it some showed 
one continuous picture on the label, which was very unsatisfactory 
and soon disappeared, as only a fraction of the picture could be seen 
at one time. Others had two subdivisions, one showing the name of 
the brand with its illustrations, occasionally used as a trade-mark, 
the other showing the article packed in the can, both named and 
illustrated. Unfortunately, these subdivisions were so largo that 
the roundness of the can prevented one from seeing the picture as a 
whole, but this was soon remedied by making the subdivisions nar- 
rower and filling in between with directions, weight of contents, etc. 

From this point on the general plan of labels underwent few changes 
except that the work, both of the artist and pressman, improved 
wonderfully, some of the labels now designed and printed being 
real works of art. 

Up to a few years ago one of the most serious evils in the trade 
was the use of misleading and lying brands. The high-grade product 
would almost invariably be correctly and fully branded, but "chums" 
and "pinks" were usually branded as "Fresh salmon," "Ch ice 
salmon," etc., which would deceive all persons but those well ac- 
quainted with the industry. "Do-overs," and very poor fish, were 
usually marketed under a brand which bore the name of a fictitious 
company or of no company at all. 

The passage of State laws of varying degrees of efficiency govern- 
ing the branding of salmon helped slightly to remedy this condition 
of affairs, but it was not until the pure food and drugs act, approved 
June 30, 1906, was put into force by the Government that any radical 
improvement was noticeable. At the present time but few mislead- 
ing brands are in use. 

BOXING OR CASING. 

A case of salmon generally contains 48 one-pound cans or their 
equivalent, i. e., 24 two-pound cans or 96 half-pound cans. Some 
canneries pack their half-pomid cans in cases of 48. These cases are 
usually made of wood and cost from 9 to 11 cents each knocked down. 

CAN MAKING. 

Some of the canneries in the coast States and vVlaska purchase their 
cans ready-made, but the usual method is to purchase the sheet tin 
and make up the cans in the canneries. This is especially necessary 
in Alaska, as it would be impossible to find room on trie cannery 
ships for such a bulk as they would make in addition to the other 
supplies necessary. Furthermore, the making of cans provides work 
for a large part of the crew, otherwise unemployed while the rest are 
getting ready the other necessary paraphernalia. The work is done 
by machinery and occupies several weeks' time. 

Of recent years the objection to the great amount of space occu- 
pied by the cans when shipped by freight has been overcome by mak- 
mg the body of the can, pressing it flat, and shipping it in this com- 
pact shape along with the ends. At the cannery is a machine for rim- 
ming the flattened body into a round shape once more, when the end 
can be put on with the regular double seamer. 



124 U. i3. BUREATT OF FISHERIES. 

CANNING SMOKED SALMON. 

A number of ventures in the line of canning smoked salmon have 
been made on this coast, but most of the pioneers were not content 
or able to invest the amount of capital needed and wait the tim.e 
required to create a demand for such products, and soon quit. 

One of the leading British Columbia packers, H. Bell-Irving & Co., 
some years ago put up in cans some pink salmon which had been 
treated to an artificial smoke in a vat, and these are said to have 
made a favorable impression in Australia. Another canner operat- 
ing on the Fraser River smoked pink salmon, and then, cutting them 
to the proper length, packed them dry in half-pound cans. 

In 1908 the Columbia Canning Co. put up at its cannery on Chilkoot 
Inlet, Alaska, some smoked salmon which had been shaved into thin 
strips like dried beef. These, called "Flaxamo," were packed in oil 
and were very good, especially in making sandwiches. 

In 1915 two companies began in Seattle the smoking, slicing, and 
canning of coho and king salmon. These were put up in oblong flat 
cans of various sizes, similar to sardine cans, 2\, 4^, and 7^ ounces, 
respectively, while for a special trade a 7i-pound can was also packed. 
These fish were cut quite thin, about 40 to 50 slices to the pound, and 
were packed in hermetically sealed cans with cottonseed oil. The 
fish were all hard smoked before slicing and canning. 

The same companies are also putting up kippered salmon in cans. 

Salmon loaf, made by mixing salmon with flour and various other 
ingredients, thus producing a paste, is also being canned by several 
packers. 

A straight salmon paste, made solely from the flesh of the salmon, 
and mixed with oil and spices, is being manufactured by one of the 
leading packers. 

HOME CANNING. 

At a number of places along the coast it has become the custom for 
the thrifty housewives to do a little home canning of salmon for winter 
use when the fish are abundant and cheap, and they find canning 
salmon as easy as canning vegetables and fruit. The fish are dressed, 
skinned, and the backbone removed. It is then cut into transverse 
strips of a size to fit either a pint or a quart glass jar, whichever is to 
be used. The jars are then filled with the pieces, salted to taste, the 
rubber ring put on, after which the can cover is put on loosely so that 
the steam may escape. Strips of thui wood are placed at the bottom 
of a kettle or wash boiler and the cans set down on them. Enough 
cold water is then poured into the kettle to bring it up to within about 
2 inches of the top of the cans. The kettle is then put on the stove 
and, after it comes to a boil, note is made of the time, and the cans are 
cooked from one and one-half to three hours. There seems to be a 
great variation in the time of cooking on the part of the operators. 
Some even cook only one hour, but these generally use a preservaline. 
About three hours seems to be the best time, sis the bones are then 
quite soft. At the end of the cooking period the tops are tightened, 
tne kettle removed from the stove, and the water and cans allowed to 
cool in the kettle. 

Portable retorts and hand double seamers are now available for house- 
hold use, and as a result many are using tin cans as containers. A re- 
cent improvement on the double seamer permits of the use of a tin con- 
tainer three times, thus materially reducing the heavy expense for cans. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 36.— AN INDIAN SALMON DRYING- RACK, BERING SEA, ALASKA. 




FIG. 37.— THE BARONOVICH SALMON SALTERY; THE OLDEST SALTERY IN ALASKA. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 125 

INSPECTION OF PLANTS PACKING CANNED SALMON. 

For some years there has been a desire on the part of a majority 
of the salmon canners for some form of inspection of the plants 
and of the 'pack made. The widespread suspicion that the salmon 
pack of 1918 was considerably below standard, which suspicion 
resulted in heavy monetary loss to the packers, gave a great 
impetus to this desire. The National Canners' Association, an 
organization composed of the majority of the canners of the United 
States, a few years before, at the request of the sardine canners of 
Maine, organized them into the sardine section of the association, 
and by an assessment of a small sum per case raised sufficient funds to 
provide an inspection service to see that the plants were put into and 
kept in a satisfactory sanitary condition and also to inspect the goods 
packed and, if they were up to the standards fixed in advance, to affix 
to the cans suitable certificates attesting this. 

At its annual convention in 1919 the association decided to ex- 
tend a similar service to any other section willing to assess itself 
to pay the necessary expense. In explanation of its plan the asso- 
ciation issued the ifollowing circular shortly after the convention 
had adjourned: 

1. This service is installed by the National Canners' Association, ■with which a 
direct contract is made by each canner. 

2. It runs for a term of three years and is applied in States or local territories where 
similar conditions are to be met. 

',]. The cost of the inspection is paid by the canners in the territory named through 
an assessment which, in the past, has been collected by the can companies with 
which each canner deals. This cost is added to the can invoice, and is remitted by 
the can companies to the treasurer of the National Canners' Association each month. 

4. In order to meet the preliminary expenses of the inspection liefore the regular 
fund becomes available, each canner who signs a contract will pay into the treasury 
of the National Canners' Association, within 30 days after signing the contract, an 
assessment of one-half cent per case on his pack of 1918, on the commodities to be 
inspected. Should the total sum raised during the season be greater than the expenses 
of inspection during the season, a refund of all or a portion of the one-half cent per 
case Mill be made after a small sum is reserved to maintain a consistent surplus. 

5. The treasurer of the National Canners' Association distributes this money to 
the local sections where the money is to be spent. 

6. The National Canners' Association has no profit in this inspection- — its only 
requirement being that each canner under inspection is a member of the association, 
and pays the membership and general dues. 

7. A director or supervisor of inspection is appointed by the National Canners' 
Association who in turn appoints his assistants. The salaries of the director or su- 
pervisor and his assistants are fixed by the National Canners' Association which works 
in harmony with the judgment of the advisory board. The director or supers isor 
must be a man of superior ability, preferably one with scientific training. He must 
also be a good executive. 

8. The director or supervisor acts in conjunction with the ad^■isory board whic^a 
may consist of five, seven, or nine members. This advisory board is elected by the 
canners in the States or Territories covered. The duties of this board are what its 
name implies, "advisors." In point of actual experience, it is found this advisory 
board is able to settle all practical disputes and misunderstandings which may arise 
under this method of inspection. There is always a final appeal to the executive 
committee of the National Canners' Association. 

9. The National Canners' Association does not promise or guarantee to issue cer- 
tificates of inspection, but in territories where inspection has existed, the certificates 
have been issued on products which merit the same. It should be distinctly under- 
stood, however, that this does not form any part of the contract. 

10. The cost in territories where inspection has been applied has been one and 
one-quarter to two cents per ca.se. It is impossible to advise in advance definitely 
what the cost will be, as the local conditions differ. It should be borne in mind that 
there must always be a sufficient number of inspectors to protect the inspection, and 



126 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



if canners are widely scattered, this, as a matter of course, will increase the number 
numerically — not in proportion to the pack. 

11. The inspection covers sanitation in plants, quarters for employees, and sani- 
tation of the product. It is also proposed, as the work progresses, to apply inspection 
to the character of the raw product, and grading of the same. This grading on staples 
will be worked out on recommendation frcm the advisory board, which will be har- 
monized so as to give a uniform grade to each product through the entire country. 

12. In localities where inspection has been installed, local laboratories purchased 
and financed by the funds for inspection, have been found most useful. These 
laboratories furnish prompt facilities for canners for testing their product and working 
out manufacturing problems which come up during the activities of the canning 
season. These laboratories are established and work in harmony with the research 
laboratories of the National Canners' Association, Washington, D. C. 

13. This inspection can well be made the basis of a consistent publicity advertising 
campaign, should the industry adopt it generally, in time to guarantee its working 
satisfactorily during the canning season of 1919. The present plan, however, does 
not include this publicity campaign, as this is a matter which must necessarily be 
passed upon later by the canners themselves. 

14. Copy of contract with each canner is herewith inclosed, or information. 

On February 17, 1919, the matter of adopting this inspection system 
was submitted to the salmon canners of the Pacific coast and accepted 
by a large majority. A chief inspector and a number of assistants 
were appointed, who carried on a sanitary inspection of the various 
canneries during the following summer. It is the intention ulti- 
mately to extend this inspection to the pack itself. 

INVESTIGATION OF CANNED SALMON INDUSTRY. 

In 1917 and 1918 an investigation of the canned salmon industry 
was made by the Federal Trade Commission and many valuable 
statistical data were gathered and published." 

The following table shows, with other data, the average number 
of fish per case of each grade packed in the different geographical 
sections. 

Number of Fish Canned and Purchased, Number of Cases Packed, and Aver- 
age Number of Fish Per Case. & 



District. 


Grade offish. 


Num- 
ber of 
com- 
panies 
report- 
ing. 


Number 
offish 
canned. 


Number 

offish 

purchased. 


Percent- 
age of 
fish 
canned 
which 
were 
pur- 
chased. 


Number 
of cases 
packed. 


Aver- 
age 
num- 
ber of 
fish 
per 
case. 


West Alaska 




7 
6 
20 
15 
9 
7 


111,381 
25,483 
148, 286 
ISO, 580 
865, 392 
60,656 


27,175 

11,602 
136, 597 

80, 574 
842, 127 

60, 143 


24.39 
45.52 
92.12 
44.62 
97.31 
99.15 


28,003 
5,854 
34, 344 
25,606 
265,376 
18, 607 


4.28 




do 


4.35 




.do 


4.31 




do 


7.05 




. ..do 


3.26 




do 


3.25 








Totals and averages 


64 


1 . .-^fll . 778 


1,158,218 


83.66 


375,790 


3.73 


Ends 






West Alaska 


I 

29 
17 
8 
1 


16,564,413 
1,387,647 
1,609,978 
2,593,240 
775,382 
59,352 


1,017,042 
547, 261 
784,503 
168,584 
439,900 
59,352 


6.13 
39.43 
48.70 

6.50 
56.73 
100.00 


1,223,950 
118, 891 
123, 767 
198,205 
67,334 
4,645 


13.52 




rin 


11.67 




do 


13.00 


Puget Sound 


do 


13.04 




do 


11.52 




do 


12.78 








Totals and a verages . 


69 


22, 990, 012 


3, 016, 642 


13.28 


1, 736, 792 


13.24 







o Report of the Federal Trade Commission on Canned Foods. Canned salmon. December, 1918. 83 pp. 
Washington, 1919. 
t> Report of the Federal Trade Commission: Op. cit., pp. 15, 1& 
c Coastal streams in Washington, Oregon, and California. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



127 



Number of Fish Canned and Purchased, Number of Cases Packed, and Aver- 
age Number of Fish Per Case — Continued. 



District. 



Grade of fish. 



Num- 
ber of 
com- 
panies 
report- 
ing. 



Number 
offish 
canned. 



Number 

offish 

purchased. 



rercent- 
age of 
fish 
canned 
which 
were 
pur- 
chased. 



Number 
of Cases 
packed. 



Aver- 
age 
num- 
ber of 
fish 
per 
case. 



West Alaska 

Central Alaska — 
Southeast Alaska. 

Pugct Sound 

Columbia River.. 
Outside rivers ". . 



Mediiun reds.. 



Totals and a\cra,:;es. 

West Alaska 

Central Alaska 

Southeast .\laska 

Puget Sound 

Totals and averages. 

West Alaska 

Central Alaska 

Southeast Alaska 

Puget Sound 

Coliunbia River 

Outside rivers <• 



Totals and averages 
Columbia River 



Totals and averages. 



.do. 
.do. 
-do. 
.do. 
.do. 



29 
17 
10 

8 



394,048 
305, 246 
1, 018, 014 
1,099,374 
346,597 
349, 053 



46, 619 
131, 998 
505, 937 
677, 485 
310, 216 
349, 348 



11.83 
43.22 

49.67 
61. 62 
89. 50 
100.09 



36, 078 
37, 275 
117,422 

110,658 
42, 782 
34, 937 



74 I 3,512,332 | 2,331,819 



66.38 



379, 152 



Pinks. 

do. 

do. 

do. 



4, 153, 353 
4, 102, 775 
12,266,379 
1, 800, 875 



44 I 22,323,382 



Chart s 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

...do. 



Steelheads. 



1, 144, 595 

331,423 

3,661,176 

2,981,678 

374, 370 

110,809 



8, 604, 051 



1U3, 774 



103, 774 



540, 248 

1, 821, 558 

4, 772, 128 

607 



13.00 
44.39 
38. 89 



214, 482 
212, 169 
87;}, 953 
70, 979 



7, 134, 541 



31.99 1,377,583 



289, 663 
160, 465 
2,296,478 
1, 887, 278 
358,255 
10b, 973 



25. 30 
48.41 
62.72 
63.29 
95.69 
96.53 



97, 528 
37, 870 
344, 213 
387, 373 
62, 043 
16, 896 



5,099,112 



59.26 



945, 923 



102,117 



16, 991 



102, 117 



16, 991 



1917. 



West Alaska 

Central Alaska... 
Southeast Alaska. 

Puget Sound 

Columbia River.. 
Outside rivers a.. 



Totals and averages 

West Alaska 

Central Alaska , 

Southeast Alaska 

Puget Sound 

Coliunbia River 

Outside rivers " 



Totals and averages . 

West Alaska 

Central Alaska 

Southeast Alaska 

Puget Sound 

Columbia River 

Outside rivers « 



Totals and averages. 

West Alaska 

Central Alaska 

Soiitheast Alaska 

Puget Sound 

Columbia River 

Outside rivers « 



Totals and averages. 

West Alaska 

Central Alaska 

Southeast Alaska 

Puget Sound 

Coliunbia River 

Outside rivers « 



Totalsandaverag&s. 

Puget Sound 

Columbia River 

Outside Rivers a 

Totals and averages. 



Kii'gs. 

do. 

do. 



.do. 
.do. 
.do. 



Reds.. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

....do. 
do. 



Med. I mi reds. 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 

....do 



Pinks. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 

do. 



Chums. 
....do. 
....do. 
....dn. 
....do. 
....do. 



Steelheads . 

....do 

....do 



107,590 
34, 158 
283,643 
209, 360 
959, 846 
45,378 



18, 407 
19, 872 
202, 693 
105, 731 
643,063 
43, 468 



1,639,975 i 1,033,234 



21, 449, 913 
2, 271, 989 
1, 964, 993 
4, 731, 861 
1, 213, 887 
21, 868 



31,654,511 



145, 837 
238,572 
1,033,339 
813, 269 
728, 221 
394, 779 



3, 349, 017 



3, 9.=>8, 3:)1 
5,221,887 
24, 166, 834 
11, 805, 693 
77, OSl 
62, 892 



45,292,778 



527,982 

728,514 

4,087,578 

2,547,457 

277, 836 

88,736 



8,258,103 



33 
138, 421 

787 



1.39, 241 



1, 192, 000 

974, 653 

1, 074, 658 

1, 233, 489 

688, 637 

21, 868 



5,185,305 



18, 3So 
141, 424 
419, 046 
501,857 
587. 879 
376, 224 



2, 044, S15 



1, 175, 748 
2,172,476 
10, 473, 748 
6, 361, 891 
14,635 
62, 892 



20,261,390 



17.10 
58.19 
71.46 
50.54 
6.99 
95. 75 



63. 00 



5.56 
42.89 
54.95 
26. 00 
56.72 
100. 00 



16. 40 



12. 60 
59. 29 
40.55 
73.90 
80.72 
95.29 



61.05 



29.70 
41.62 
43.30 
53.80 
18.98 
100.00 



44. 90 



194, 962 

418, 419 

2,554,968 

1, 8.52, 350 

123,436 

84, 413 



5, 228, 548 



33 
145, 581 

787 



146,401 



36.92 
57.43 
62.49 
72.71 
44.42 
95.12 



63.31 



100. 00 
105. 01 
100. 00 



105.00 



21,398 
6,b75 
45,674 
53, 485 
273, 291 
12, 940 



413, 463 



1, 433, 780 

189, 921 

158, 582 

372, 467 

98, 076 

1,769 



2, 254, 595 



13, 4(16 
30, 430 
98, 324 
91, 991 
47, 861 
34,417 



316,429 



219, 5US 

324, 230 

1,362,187 

858, 396 

4,761 

4,222 



2,773,304 



54, 215 
79, 208 
480, 895 
249, 390 
28, 0.S5 
11,655 



903,448 



5 

22,234 

126 



22,365 



a Coastal streams in Washington, Oregon, and California. 



128 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The following table shows the relative importance of different 
species within each district. In 1916 the red or sockeye salmon v/as 
the most abundant, but in 1917 the humpback had usurped this place 
by a small m rgin. 

Relative Importance op Different Species Within Each District.^ 
|Per cent which each species is of total pack by districts.] 



District. 


King or 
Chinook. 


Red or 
sockeye. 


Medium 
red. 


Pinks or 
hump- 
back. 


Chum. 


Steel- 
head. 


Total, all 
grades. 


1916. 
West Alaska 


1.6 
2.0 

.8 

5.5 

69.9 

40.0 


85.4 
53.7 
11.8 
11.4 
1.1 
5.4 


1.6 

5.1 

8.1 

21.4 

11.2 

29.7 


2.6 
32.9 
57.7 
.2 
.1 
3.0 


S.8 
6.3 
21.6 
61.4 
13.5 
21.8 




100 


Central Alaska 




100 


Southeast Alaska 




100 


Puget Sound 


0.1 
4.2 

•1 


100 


Columbia River 


100 




100 








8.6 


36.8 


8.3 


26.6 


19.4 


.3 


ion 






1917. 
West Alaska 


1.2 

1.9 

.9 

3.1 

71.2 

39.9 


95.1 

72.2 

6.5 

21.1 

1.5 

2.8 


.3 
3.6 
4.5 
6.4 
13.6 
32.9 


.2 
13.3 
65.3 
51.7 

.1 
9.2 


3.2 
9.0 
22.8 
17.7 
9.9 
15.0 




100 


Central Alaska 




100 


Southeast Alaska 




100 






100 




3.7 

.2 


100 




100 








6.9 


34.2 


5.1 


38.3 


15.3 


.2 


100 







a Report of the Federal Trade Commission: Op. cit , p. 33. 

The following table shows the relative importance of districts in the 
production of each species in 1916 ^md 1917. Southeast Alaska leads 
in each year, with 35.1 and 38.1 per cent, respectively. Western 
Alaska was second in 1916, but was forced down to third place by 
Puget Sound in 1917. In 1916 Central Alaska produced 21 per cent 
of the humpback pack, but in 1917 this was reduced to 4.1 percent. 
Puget Sound advanced from 0.1 per cent of the humpback pack in 
1916 to 30.7 per cent in 1917. Humpbacks run in this district only 
every other year. 

Relative Importance of Districts in Production of Each Species.^ 
[Per cent of total amount of each species packed in various districts.] 



District. 


King or 
Chinook. 


Red or 
sockeye. 


Medium 
red. 


Pinks or 
hump- 
back. 


Chum. 


Steel- 
head. 


Total, all 
grades. 


1916. 
West Alaska 


4.9 
4.0 
3.3 
6.9 
66.9 
14.0 


59.9 
24.8 
11.2 
3.4 
.3 
.4 


4.9 
10.5 
34.4 
28.1 
11.2 
10.9 


2.5 

21.0 

76.0 

.1 

.1 

.3 


11.8 
5.5 
39.1 
34.4 
5.8 
3.4 




25.9 






17.0 






35.1 


Puget Sound 


0.6 

S8.5 

.9 


10.8 


Columbia River ... 


8.2 


Outside rivers 


3.0 






Total 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 






1917. 
West .'Vlaska 


3.4 
3.3 

4.9 
10.3 
66.7 
11.4 


53.5 

24.9 

7.2 

14.0 

.2 

.2 


1.3 

8.2 
32.8 
28.0 
17.1 
12.6 


.1 
4.1 

64.6 

30.7 

.0 

.5 


4.0 
6.9 
57.0 
26.1 
4.1 
1.9 




19.1 






11. S 






38.1 






22.6 




98.4 
1.6 


6.4 


Outside rivers 


2.0 






Total 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100.0 


100-0 







"■ Report of the Federal Trade Commission: Op. cit., p. 34. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 129 

! 

I MILD CURING. 

The beginning of the business of mild-curing salmon, or "sweet 
pickling," as it is sometimes called, is of comparatively recent date. 

In 1889 a German dealer came to the Columbia River and tried to 
interest some of the cannery men in the business. J. O. Hanthorn, 
M. J. Kinney, and J. W. Cook were persuaded to prepare some, and 
the plant of the Northwest Cold Storage Co., at Portland, was used to 
keep the fish at a low temperature during repacking and preparation 
for shipment. These fish were shipped to Germany, but the shippers 
received no linancial returns, word coming back that the fish were not 
satisfactory. 

Owing to this lack of success from the first effort, no further attempt 
was made until 1894, when Mueller & Loring, of Chicago, put up a car- 
load of mild-cured salmon at Kalama, Wash., and shipped it to" Ger- 
many. In 1896 Charles Ruckles and Wallace Bros., of Kalama, 
packed several carloads for the German market. It was not until 
1898 that the business was permanently established on the Columbia, 
the Trescott Packing Co. and S. Schmidt & Sons putting up plants 
at Warrenton and Astoria, respectively. 

In 1900 the Trescott Packing Co. began packing the spring and fall 
runs, and the Sacramento River Packers' Association packed the fall 
run, on the Sacramento River, the business being carried on here every 
year since. 

In 1901 the Sacramento River Packers' Association began at Mon- 
terey the mild curing of the spring salmon that were taken with hook 
and line in the open ocean. 

S. Elmoi'e & Co. started the industry in 1902 at Tillamook, and the 
business began on Puget Sound in 1901, when the San Juan Fishing 
& Packing Co. and the Seattle Fish Co. took it up. The Pacific Cold 
Storage Co. began the next year at Anacortes. 

Prior to 1906 several of the Alaska cannery men put up each season 
a few tierces of mild-cured salmon, but it was not until this time that 
the industry really began as such. In that year J. Lindenbcrger (Inc.) 
started packing at Ketchikan, Alaska. The following year several 
other plants were started, and in 1910 almost all of the king salmon 
taken in southeast Alaska were mild cured. The same is true to-day. 

For mild curing the fresh fish must be given greater care in han- 
dling than is the case with any other process. Care must be exercised 
to see that the flesli of the fish is not bruised or broken, and in order 
to make sure of this the handlers usually pack several fish in one 
box, with cracked ice over and around them if the weather is warm. 
As soon as a box is filled, it is put in the hold, where the boxes are 
stacked one upon another, but prevent more weight than is repre- 
sented inside one box coming upon any one fish. 

In dressing, the head is removed, care being taken to leave as much 
of the bony structure of the head as possible to assist in holding the 
side of the hooks when it is being smoked later on; the fish is then 
split down the belly to the vent, the entrails removed, when a cut is 
made on either side of the blood clot in the back, and the fish passed 
to the "washer," who holds the fish on its back in a slot on the 
table under a spray of water, and removes the membrane of skin 
wliich covers the inside of the backbone and inside of which a good 

11312°— 21 9 



130 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

deal of thick blood lies, by means of a large spoon or some similar 
form of scraper. A knife should not be employed. Some curers do 
not remove the fins at this stage, while others do. 

The body is then scored along the sides with a small knife, care 
being used to cut the skin only this allows the salt to penetrate more 
freely and thus assist the process of cure. A specially prepared ec- 
centric wheel is sometimes used for this purpose, which makes a series 
of small cuts varying from half an inch at the tail to 1^ inches long 
at the shoulder, and from 2 to 3 inches apart. 

The fish is now ready for the splitter, who turns it on its back with 
the open belly toward him and forces the shoulder down on a sharp- 
pointed nail, so the fish will not slip during the operation. A cross- 
cut is first made across the root of the tail to the bone, but no deeper. 
Then the knife is entered at the vent, immediately above the bone, 
and a cut, which should go no farther back than the middle of the 
backbone, is drawn down to the crosscut already made. Then rais- 
ing the lug with his left hand, the splitter enters the knife at the 
shoulder above the bone, and with one sweep from head to tail, sepa- 
rates the entire side. This is the more easily done if the fins have 
been previously removed. If the work is perfect, there will be no 
flesh left on the bone, but a line of fat will show down the center of 
the side. This improves the appearance of the fish and adds to its 
value. 

In order to remove the bone from the remaining half of the fish, 
the splitter inserts the knife under the bone, about the vent, and 
draws down toward the tail, but care must be taken, as before, not 
to go farther back than the spine. The splitter now takes the fish off 
the nail, holding it by the lug, his left thumb resting on the upper, or 
inside of the fish, and his fingers on the lower, or skin side. The tail 
is now pointing away from the splitter, who enters his knife care- 
fully under the backbone, and with one dextrous outward sweep sepa- 
rates ihe bone from the fish right down to the root of the tail. When 
abreast of the crosscut, however, he turns the knife sharply down- 
ward, and cuts off the fish the same as on the other side. As with 
the first half, no flesh should be left adhering to the bone, and the 
line of fat should show down the center. In other words, the two 
sides should be exactly alike. 

The sides are dipped into cold water in the dress tank, and are then 
laid, skin side down, on the table with the thin or belly edge toward 
the front. A man then removes any blood remaining in the veins on 
the inside of the fish, by pressing it away from him toward the back 
of the fish, either with his fingers or with a spoon. If the blood is 
not squeezed out in this way the salt will harden it during the process 
of curing, and the flesh will become dark in color. The sides are then 
dipped in a tank of weak brine and crushed ice to give them a fini4 
wash, but should on no account be left to soak in the brine. Upon 
removal, they are again scraped to insure the removal of all the blood 
from the veins. 

Great care must be used in handling the newly split sides, as they 
are very tender and may be easily broken or bruised. In lifting 
them by the lug or collar bone, the curer should have his fingers to 
the inside and his thumb to the outer or skin side; otherwise the 
skin may be broken. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 131 

The sides are then taken to the salter, who lays them, skin side 
down, on a salting table, on which lias been duinp(Ml a quantity of 
dairy salt, and gently rubs the flesh with the salt, lifts it up with 
only such salt as will adhere to it, and places it in the tierce. 

The tierces in which the salmon sides are packed are stout casks 
made of fir or spruce, bound with six strong galvanizoMl hoops. They 
contain about SOO pounds of fish, but when full of pickle the gross 
M'eight of cask and content is between 1,100 and 1,200 pounds. A 
plug hole is bored in the head of the tierce. 

Two or three handfuls of salt are thrown over the bottom of the 
tierce, then a layer of salmon sides, skin down, and two or three hand- 
fills of salt are sprinkled over them. In packing two sides of fish, 
crossed head and tail are packed close to opposite sides of the 
tierce, the back or thick part of each side being plac(>d close up 
against the side of the tierce. Other si<k^s of fish are packed from 
the sides toward the center of the tierc(% napes and tails alternately, 
the back of each side being drawn halfway up and resting on the 
side already laid. When complete, the layer should be perfectly 
level, and this depends a good deal on how the last or center piece 
is laid. Salt is sprinkled between each layer in the manner and 
quantity noted above and the process continued until the tierce is 
full. The tiers should be crossed in packing. The top layer should 
be placed with the skin up and have extra salt put on. From 85 to 
100 pounds of salt are used to 800 pounds of fish. 

The tierce is then headed up, after which pickle is poured in until 
the tierce is quite full. This ])ickle may be made with the same 
salt as is used for rousing and sprinkling the fish. Perfectly clear 
water should be provided and broken ice should be added in liberal 
quantities, if the weather is warm. Before using, the pickle should 
be strained through a fine sieve or a clean cloth, to remove froth 
and sediment. A centigrade saltmeter is used by most mild curers. 
The pickle is made to a strength of at least 90°, but it usually weakens 
to about 70° during the fii*st 10 days of cure, whereas after re- 
packing it should not readily come below 85°, and it should retain 
that strength for a long time. 

When tierces have been filled with pickle they are rolled inside a 
cold-storage room, with a temperature of 35 to 38° F., where they 
may be tiered two tiers high. Very little variation in the temperature 
is allowable, as it would start the oil or fat in the flesh, allowing 
it to escape into the brine. 

Unless the tierces are kept quite fuU of pickle the sides of fish 
arc apt to be broken when the cask is rolled about. The tierces 
must be examined frequently to see that they are fidl of brine, as 
there are always small leaks, while the staves absorb more or less 
moisture. Furthermore, if the tierces were allowed to leak, ugly 
yellow spots would show on the parts of the fish that were left dry. 
Thus it is of the utmost importance, both during the two or three 
weeks allowed for pining and also after repacking, to see that they 
are kept full of pickle. Several gallons of pickle may be absorbed 
by each cask during the first two or three weeks of cure. 

The actual shrinkage during the two or three weeks in which the 
fish lie in the first packing may be reckoned at 30 per cent. Fat, 
well-conditioned fish, especially those which are caught in the ocean, 
shi'ink less, but poor fish, especially those caught when well on their 



132 V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

way to the spawning grounds, shrink more — sometimes up to 35 
per cent. 

After holding the fish in storage for at least 20 and not more 
than 90 days they are taken out of the tierces. Each side of fish 
should be lifted oiit carefully, as described above, and sponged with 
a large sponge until all salt and slime are entirely removed, leaving 
only a clean, red side of fish. Either pure ice water or ice pickle 
may be used for this washing, but it will depend entirely on the 
quality and condition of the fish. Soft, poor fish would require 
pickle, but good firm fish may be washed in clean ice water. 

The sides are then weighed and graded accordingly, 6 to 8 pounds, 
8 to 10 pounds, and so on, being the grades. Sides of 11 pounds 
and over are called large fish, and "L" is marked on the side of the 
tierce. Some curers grade their sides from 9 to 11 pounds and 
class them as medium and mark them "M;" smaller sides are termed 
small and are marked '*S." 

After the sides have been graded they should be counted and 
repacked, the defective sides, such as thin-bellied, torn or broken, 
being put by themselves. Fish which are considered perfect are 
called No. 1; those which do not come up to that standard are 
termed No. 2, and are marked accordingly; while fish that have 
any taint of sourness are marked "T." In repacking, the sides of 
fish should be replaced as nearly as possible in their original position, 
those curved in shape being placed against the sides of the cask and 
straight pieces laid in the center of the tier. No salt is used in repack- 
ing, but as soon as the tierce is filled, the head put in, and the air test ap- 
plied it is laid on its bilge and filled up with ice-cold pickle made to a 
strength of 90° salometer (90 per cent saturation) that can be made 
from fresh or salt water, whichever is handiest and cleanest, half -ground 
salt being used. There wiU be about 830 pounds of fish on an average 
in the tierce after repacking, and some 14 gallons of pickle may be 
required to fill the cask up. They are then put back into cold storage 
and pickled at the bilge daily for at least a week. If kept for any 
length of time, they would, of course, have to be tested, regularly — a 
tap with a hammer would do — and any leakage promptly rectified. 
If properly cured, the fish should keep in good condition for months 
in cold storage, provided the casks are sound and kept full of pickle. 

On the head of each tierce are put the following marks : Initials of 
packer or packers; initials of place where packed; number of tierce 
(consecutive) ; number of sides in tierce, the tare, and the gross 
weight (weight of pickle not counted) ; quality of fish (I, II, or T) ; 
and size of fish (L, M, or S). 

If of first quality, no mark is necessary, but second-quality and 
tainted fish have to be noted. 

In the early days of the industry different preparations, which 
included salicylic and boracic acids, were used to help preserve the 
fish. This caused much complaint from the Germans, and finally 
their Government subjected our product to a rigid inspection, with 
most salutary results, as now it is one of the purest and best products 
put up on this coast, the use of acids being done awa}^ with entirely. 

The king salmon is almost invariably the species mild cured, being 
the only one large enough to answer the requirements of the trade. 
In 1907 a Ketchikan (Alaska) packer put up a quantity of coho, dog, 
and humpback salmon, but he found so much difficulty in disposing 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 133 

of the product that he abandoned further efforts in this line. A f(^w 
cohos are put up each year. 

The principal consumers of the mild-cured salmon are the smokers, 
who take them from the tierce, wash and soak them for a few 
minutes, and then have a practically fresh fish to smoke, and not, 
as in the days when hard-pickled salmon were used, one that had lost 
most of its oil and flavor through the excessive amount of salt needed 
to preserve it. 

The greater part of the product put up on this coast goes to 
Europe, Germany being the principal consumer, but considerable 
quantities are sold in Norway, Sweden, and other countries, while 
the smokers of the cities east of the Rocky Mountains use large 
quantities every year. 

In Germany, the principal market for mild-cured salmon, nearly 
all of the fish are smoked. One of the most popular ways of using 
tlie smoked salmon is in the making of sandwiches, and probably 
the greater portion of these are used in the beer halls and the auto- 
matic restaurants in that country. 

PICKLING. 

The earliest method of preserving salmon on the coast was by 
pickling. At times this industry attained to large proportions, but 
during the last 10 years it has been declining, largely because the 
canners are able to pay more for the raw fish than the salters. All 
species of salmon are pickled , but the most popular is the red salmon. 

In dressing salmon for pickling the head is removed, the fish 
split along the back, the cut ending with a downward curve on the 
tail. The viscera and two-thirds of the backbone are removed, and 
the blood, gurry, and black stomach membrane scraped away. The 
fish are then thoroughly scrubbed and washed in cold water. They 
are next placed in pickling butts with about 15 pounds of half -ground 
salt to every 100 pounds of fish. The fish should be laid in a ^ier, 
flesh side up, and the salt well sprinkled over it, repeating until the 
tank is full. Several boards are then laid across the fish and these 
are weighted down with large stones in order to keep the fish sub- 
merged in the pickle which will form. The fish remain here about 
one week, the brine being held at about 90°. They are then removed, 
rubbed clean with a scrub brush, and repacked in market barrels, 
one sack of salt being used to every three barrels of 200 pounds each. 
About 40 to 52 red salmon, 25 to 35 coho salmon, 70 to 80 humpback 
salmon, 10 to 14 king salmon, and 25 to 30 dog salmon are required 
in packing a barrel of pickled salmon. 

A few salteries also pack "bellies." This product is merely the 
belly of the fish, which is the fattest portion, and as most of the 
packers threw away the rest of the fish, thus causing a very large 
waste of choice food, this method has come under the ban of the law 
in some of the coast States and in Alaska. As a result, but few 
"beUies" are packed now, and most of these only when some economic 
use is made of the remainder. Humpback salmon furnish the major 
part of the "belly" pack. 

In preparing salmon bellies, the operator first cuts off the two 
pectoral fins, and them removes the head, care being taken to follow 
the curve of the body until the backbone is reached, which should 



134 U. S, BUREAtf or FISHEEIES. 

then be severed straight across. With the smaller salmon the fish is 
then turned on its back, and the operator inserts his knife in the 
body just above the backbone and cuts down through the body, the 
knife coming out just in front of the vent. If properly done, the cut 
will come close to the upper wall of the stomach. With large king 
salmon it is sometimes necessary to make the cut first on one side, 
then turn the fish over and make the cut on the other side. The bellv 
is then laid flat on the cutting table and the membrane at one end 
cut so the bell}^ will lie flat. The bellies are then washed and salted 
the same as hard-salted salmon. 

When bellies are cut, the backs are saved and either dried in the 
open air, without salt, or else pickled. 

With large kings, the operator, after the belly has been cut out, 
scrapes the inside of the remainder of the carcass. The knife is then 
inserted under the backbone at the end nearest the tail, and it is cut 
away with as little flesh as possible adhering to it. The blood is 
then scraped off, the fish thoroughly washed, and then salted the same 
as the whole fish. 

Some of the old-time fishermen save parts of the salmon heads as 
food. In this event, the head is split lengthwise clear to the bony 
covering which protects the top of the head. The gill rakers are then 
removed from each side of the split head, leaving the nutritious parts 
intact. The cleaned heads are then salted down the same as whole 
salmon. 

DRY SALTING. 

During the progress of the Russian-Japanese War the preparation 
of dry-salted dog salmon became an important industry, but as soon 
as the Japanese fishermen resumed their former occupations the 
demand fell off so much that the industry was virtually abandoned 
in the United States, although a number of Japanese continue it in 
British Columbia. The fish, after being dressed, were packed in 
boxes, in salt, these boxes holding about 560 pounds of fish, and were 
shipped in this condition to Japan. 

At a number of places in Alaska the bellies of red and coho salmon 
are cut out and salted, after which the backs are dried in the sun 
and, thus cured, are used for fox food at the numerous fox ranches. 
This product is called "ukalu." 

SMOKING. 

The smoking of salmon is virtually a continuation of the pickling, 
as the fish must be pickled before being smoked, the main purpos;^ of 
the pickling being to preserve them until the time arrives for smoking, 
which may be weeks or months after the fish are caught. For smok- 
ing the salmon are taken out of the barrel and soaked until as 
much of the salt as possible is removed. They are then put into the 
smokehouse and subjected to the heat and smoke of a fairly hot fire 
for about two days in order that they may be thoroughly dried and 
hardened. Exposure to a smoldering fire (alder wood is a favorite 
fuel) for about three days completes the process. 

For shipment smoked salmon are packed in wooden boxes, oil paper 
being placed between the fish. 

In the manufacture of smoked salmon, the mild-cured product is 
most in demand. The necessary quantity of sides is taken from the 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 135 

cold-storage and placed in large tanks filled with fresh water. In 
these they are soaked over niglit, the water being changed several 
times, depending upon the salinity of the fish, the variation of which 
depends upon the length of time the product has been held in storage, 
those held longest absorbing the most salt. 

After soaking, the sides are taken from the tanks, piled on tables, 
and allow^ed to drain as much as possible. They are then taken one 
at a time, laid flesh side down, and a bacon hanger, which is made of 
wire and has sLx or more points bent at right angles to the frame, 
terminating at the top in a hook, is pressed firmly into the flesh 
on the skin side and at the upper end of the side. They are then 
hang upon a round stick, which latter is then set in position in the 
smokehouse, each end resting upon supports on the side. The 
fish are placed so that no two of them will touch. When the smoke- 
house is full, a small fire of any nonresinous wood is then built under- 
neath to dry them, the ventilator in the top being left open so the 
moist air can escape. The fires should not be allowed to become 
too hot; the object is to give the fish smoke rather than heat, as in 
the latter case they would become partially cooked. For a mild 
cure, for ready consumption, from 8 to 10 hours, according to the 
condition of the fish, should be sufficient. If immediate sale should 
not be possible the fish must be kept in a cold-storage room with 
a temperature of about 24° F. 

In sections where the products move more slowly into consump- 
tion, a harder smoking is wanted. In this event, they are held 
over the fire until dried, which would depend upon climatic condi- 
tions, but probably around two days. After the fish have dried 
sufficiently, the fire is smothered with sawdust, which produces a 
dense smoke, giving the sides their color. During the latter period 
the ventilator is partly closed, but must be watched to prevent the 
fish from sweating. 

When thoroughly smoked the sides are removed from the smoke- 
house, taken ofl" the hanger, and each side wrapped in paper, then 
packed in wooden boxes holding each 30 pounds. 

Kippered salmon. — On the Pacific coast practically all of the 
kippered salmon is prepared from frozen white-meated king sahnon, 
which on account of the color of the flesh is not in much demand. 
It is, however, fully the equal, in both flavor and food value, of the 
red-meated kings. It is not absolutely essential that the fish be 
first frozen, as the fresh fish may be kippered after dressing, but 
the latter is always a little soft when so prepared, owing to an excess 
of moisture, which is largely removed in freezing. Fresh salmon is 
available only part of the year, so it is foimd most convenient to 
freeze and store the stock and work it up when needed throughout 
the 3^ear. 

Before freezing, the fish have been dressed, so when thawed in 
cold-running water, it is only necessary to split and cut them into 
pieces of a pound or less, these being about 6 inches long, or perhaps 
3 inches broad, depending upon the part of the fish the piece is taken 
from, and place them in a tank of strong brine to season for several 
hours. They are then dipped in a harmless vegetable coloring, 
similar to that used by the butchers for coloring sausage: this gives 
the outside of the product a red color, a concession to popular 
prejudice. 



136 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

From the coloring tank, the pieces are placed on a tray with wood 
frame and bottom of one-half inch square meshed wire; care is taken 
that the pieces do not touch each other. 

The tray is then slipped into a rack which will hold a number of 
these, placed one above the other, and this rack is then run on a 
track into the smokehouse. 

A medium fire is then kindled which dries and slightly smokes 
the pieces from 16 to 18 hours. 

When they reach a proper stage the fire is enlarged, but great care 
must be exercised in order to prevent their being overheated, and 
this is done by means of the damper at the bottom of the smoke- 
house and the ventilator at the top. The fish are baked in this 
manner from 25 to 35 minutes, the thermometer showing from 250 
to 275° of heat. 

When the cooking is completed the cars are pulled out and the 
fish allowed to cool, after which each piece is wrapped in a square 
of parchment paper and packed in a box or basket which holds 10 
pounds. 

The product is quite perishable, and if it can not be used at once, 
when of course it is at its best, must be placed in cold storage. The 
packer endeavors to turn out daily only the amount he can market 
that day. 

Beleke. — A smoked product, known locally as "beleke," is put up 
at Kodiak, Alaska, from red and coho salmons. Steelhead trout are 
the best for this purpose, but are not often utilized owing to their 
scarcity in this region. In preparing "beleke" only the backs of the 
fish are used, the belly part being cut out and pickled separately. 
The backs are divided into three grades, according to size, viz, 
"small," "medium," and "large." They are first put into a brine, the 
"large" being put in first, followed by the "medmm" and "small" 
at intervals of one hour each, so that all will be cured at about the 
same time. The coho backs, being the largest, are kept in the brine 
from 19 to 20 hours, while the red salmon backs, which are smaller, 
remain in the brine only about 16 hours. After being thoroughly 
salted the backs are removed from the brine and rinsed in fresh 
water, then hung in the air for about 24 hours to dry and to allow 
a thin skin to form on the outside. They are then hung in the smoke- 
house, in the presence of a little fire of cottonwood or alder. On dry 
days the gable windows are thrown open and the wind allowed to 
pass through while the smoking is going on. The smoking must be 
done slowly, two weeks being devoted to it. 

There is a good demand for this product locally, the fish selling 
for from 15 to 20 cents a pair, but little effort has been made to 
extend its sale outside of central Alaska. 

FREEZING. 

The process of preserving fish by freezing was first introduced in 
1888. JPrevious to this the comparatively ancient method of packing 
with ice, or in rare instances letting the fish freeze naturally during 
the winter months, was followed. Packing with ice is in quite general 
use to-day for shipments of fish which are to be preserved for short 
periods of time. Cooling with ice never results in a temperature 
lower than 32° F., which, of course, does not freeze the fish. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 137 

The freezing of salmon and steelhead trout began on the Sacra- 
mento and Cohimbia Rivers in the late eighties. It was taken up 
in a small way on Puget Sound in 1892. That year Wallace Bros, 
and Ainswortli & Dunn froze a small lot, the work being done for them 
by the Seattle Ice Co. (now the Ice Delivery Co.), and the venture was 
so successful that the next year nearly all of the wholesale dealers on 
the Sound took up the business. The Crescent Creamery, of Tacoma, 
also engaged in the business for the fish dealers for a year or two 
shortly thereafter. In 1902 the British Columbia Packers' Asso- 
ciation bought a large cold-storage plant at New Westminster, 
British Columbia, at that time the only large and modern plant 
in the Province, and began the active freezing of fish. Since then 
a number of excellent plants have been built and operated. In 
Alaska the preparing of frozen salmon began in 1902. The San Juan 
Fishing & Packing Co., soon, to be succeeded by the Pacific Cold 
Storage Co., put up a cannery and cold-storage plant atTaku Harbor, 
in southeast Alaska, in 1901, though it did not operate the cold- 
storage portion until 1902. The Taku Harbor Canning & Cold 
Storage Co. later on succeeded to the ownership and operation of 
this plant. This is the only plant which was operated in Alaska 
until the New England Fish Co. erected in 1909 a large plant at 
Ketchikan for the freezing of halibut primarily, but considerable 
quantities of salmon have been frozen also. 

In 1911 the schooner Metha Nelson was fitted up as a floating 
freezer by the Alaska Packers Association and sent to Kodiak Island. 
As the vessel arrived in San Francisco shortly before the State's 
closed season on salmon began, and it was a difficult matter to dispose 
of the catch before then, the business was abandoned. 

In 1912 J. Lindenberger (Inc.) opened a freezing plant at Craig, 
on Fish Egg Island, Alaska, while the ship miliam H. Smith was 
outfitted as a floating cannery and freezer by the Welding & Inde- 
pendent Fisheries Co., at Saginaw Bay, Alaska. The latter operated 
only one season. 

The year 1913 saw quite a development in the industry. The 
Columbia & Northern Fishing & Packing Co., at Wrangell, the Juneau 
Cold Storage Co., at Juneau, the Booth Fisheries Co., at Sitka, and 
the floating cold-storage ship Glory of the Seas, by the Glacier Fish 
Co., at Idaho Inlet, were all started this year. 

In 1914 the Ketchikan Cold Storage Co. opened a freezer for the 
general commercial freezing of fish. 

In 1917 the San Juan Fishing & Packing Co. built and operated a 
cold-storage plant at Seward. 

In 1918 Henry Goemaere operated for the first time a plant at 
Washington Bay; while the National Independent Fisheries Co. and 
the Trout Fisheries Co. froze salmon at Ketchikan. All the other 
freezers operated as usual, the only change being the purchase by 
Libby, McNeill & Libby of the cold-storage plant and cannery of the 
Taloi Harbor Canning & Cold Storage Co. at Taku Harbor. 

The freezing of salmon is almost invariably carried on in connection 
with other methods of handling and preserving, and the purpose is 
usually to secure the fish when numerous and cheap, freeze them, and 
then hold them until the runs are over and the fish are once more 
in good demand at high prices. The business proved so profitable, 



138 V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

however, that the dealers began to look for wider markets for their 
product. Europe, more especially Germany, was prospected and a 
profitable market soon developed, with the result that to-day frozen 
Pacific salmon can be secured in nearly every town of any size in 
western Europe, while large quantities are marketed all over our own 
country. 

There are four important features in packing and using frozen 
salmon: (1) To get fresh fish; (2) to keep them cold (about 15° above 
zero) after they are frOiZen; (3) to keep a coat of ice on them; and 
(4) to allow them to thaw slowly in cold water or in the air before 
cooking. 

In selecting salmon for freezing, only the finest and freshest of 
each species are used. The current belief that freezing destroys the 
flavor of the fish is erroneous, the flavor depending entirely upon 
the condition before freezing, and the quicker they are frozen after 
being caught the better will the natural flavor of the fish be pre- 
served. Frozen salmon are just as wholesome as fresh, and their 
chemical constituents are almost identical. The danger lies in the 
temptation to freeze the fish after decomposition has set in, but, for- 
tunately, this is now very rarely practiced in the salmon industry. 

The coho, or silver, and the chum, or dog, salmon are the choicest 
of the salmons for freezing. The other species, except the red, or 
sockeye, which is too oily and rarely frozen, are also frozen in vary- 
ing quantities. The steelhead trout, which is ranked by the Pacific 
coast dealers among the salmon, is considered the choicest fish of 
all for freezing. 

Some of the most modern plants in the country are on this coast. 
These have numerous freezers, generally, in which a temperature of 
from 25° to 30° F. below zero can be maintained if desired, although 
a temperature of more than 10° below zero is rarely ever required. 
All freezing is by direct expansion and each freezer is piped with 
about 2 feet of IJ-inch pipe per cubic foot of freezing space. The 
bunkers in the freezers are in pairs, generallv nine pipes wide, spaced 
10 inches apart. This leaves about a 3^-foot passage through the 
center of each freezer opposite the swing doors. The salmon are laid 
on metal sheets, which are placed on the tiers of pipes. 

After freezing the salmon are passed through openings in the rear 
of the freezers into the glazing room, which has a temperature of 
about 20° F., where they are dipped into water, and when removed 
are covered with a thin glaze of ice, which may be thickened by 
repeated dippings. This is an extra precaution to exclude the air 
from the fish. 

After being thoroughly frozen and glazed, each fish is covered first 
with a parchment, like rolls of butter, and then with a piece of 
heavy brown paper. They are then packed in boxes holding about 
250 pounds each, placed in cold-storage cars and shipped. 

The method of freezing fish in brine is now under serious consid- 
eration by a number of fishermen and dealers A brine freezer 
may be of small capacity and carried on a fishing boat or it may 
be a freezer of large capacity at some central point convenient for 
receiving the catches. In this method a strong brine solution, cooled 
by circulation through crushed ice, is used for freezing the fish. By 
this method large fish may be frozen in from 1 to 3 hours, a great 
saving in time as compared with the method at present in use. 




^i 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 139 

UTILIZING SALMON EGGS AND MELT. 

Every year immense quantities of salmon eggs are thrown away in 
the fisheries of the west coast, though t ere is but Httle doubt that, 
if properly prepared, a market could in time be found for this now 
waste part of the fish. In France there is a good market for a 
product known as "rogue," which is the spawn of cod, haddock, 
hake, and pollock, salted in casks, and which is used as bait in the 
sardine fisheries. Salmon spawn is the choicest and most successful 
bait used on this coast, and if properly prepared would undoubtedly 
answer the purpose as well as the regular "rogue" if not better, 
owing to its oiliness and attractive color. The roes should be soaked 
for some days in old brine and then packed in strong casks holding 
about 25 gallons each. It might also prove to be a good bait for 
tolling mackerel on the Atlantic coast. 

In 1910 a considerable quantity of salmon roe was prepared in 
Siberia and sold in competition with caviar, which is prepared from 
sturgeon eggs. The product met with favor in Europe and now large 
quantities are prepared each season. 

In this country Miss Ida Tuholski, of San Francisco, who had been 
engaged in the preparation of sturgeon caviar for some years, put up 
a number of sample lots of salmon caviar which are fully the equal 
of the best sturgeon caviar. Capital has been chary, however, about 
engaging in the business, although undoubtedly it will be an impor- 
tant industry some da}'. 

For making caviar the eggs should be as fresh as possible, and 
in order to make sm'e of this the salmon are taken alive, if possible, 
shortly after coming from the water, killed and bled, the belly 
opened up and the roe taken out. This work can best be done 
on work and living scows anchored close to the fishing camps. 
The roe is placed upon a stand, the top of which is formed oi a 
small-meshed galvanized-iron wire screen. On the underside is 
arranged a zinc-lined trough. The operator gently rubs the mass of 
eggs back and forth over the screen, the mesh of which is just large 
enough to let the eggs drop through, and, as they are separated from 
the membrane by the rubbing, they fall through into the trough and 
are thence drawn off into tubs by means of a sliding door at the end 
of the trough. 

After all the roe has been separated the tub is removed and a cer- 
tain proportion of salt (the sturgeon caviar makers employ the best 
Luneburg, Germany, salt in this work, while some of the Siberian 
makers of salmon caviar use No. 2 Berkshire salt from England) is 
added to the roe, after which the mass is mixed with the hands. 
The most delicate part of the whole operation is in the manner of 
mixing. No direct rule can be given for doing this portion of the 
work, as the condition of the roe regulates the time consumed and 
the manner of handling. It requires practical experience to become 
proficient, but this should be an easy matter for one used to handling 
salted products. The sturgeon caviar makers use about 11 pounds 
of salt m preparing a keg of caviar. 

After the salt has been added the mass of eggs first dries up, but 
in a few minutes the strength of the salt draws from the eggs their 
watery constituents and a copious brine is formed, which can be 
poured off when the tub becomes too full. In Siberia the caviar 



140 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

makers put the eggs into a brine solution of 19 to 22 per cent Baum6 
strength immediately after they come from the trough. The salted 
eggs are then poured into very fine-meshed sieves which hold about 
10 pounds each. In the caviar house are arranged long, sloping 
boards with narrow strips nailed on each side. On these the sieves 
are placed and left here from 8 to 20 hours in order to thoroughly 
drain. 

The Siberian caviar makers hasten the operation by putting the 
eggs into a brine solution as noted above, leave them there for from 
25 to 45 minutes, then place them in bags and subject them to heavy 
pressure, after which they are packed. While this method occupies 
less time, it is not thought the resulting product is as good as that 
prepared by the slower method outlined above. 

The eggs are then transferred to small casks (holding about 135 
pounds). The sturgeon caviar makers use oak or pine casks, but 
some of the Siberian makers say that oak casks turn the salmon caviar 
black. The casks are steamed before use in order to prevent any 
possible leakage. It is especially necessary that the kegs or barrels 
used be air-tight, as otherwise the product will spoil. Barrels such 
as used in packing salt salmon are rarely ever tight enough to hold 
caviar. The casks are covered and allowed to stand until the ^as 
escapes and the eggs settle. The vacant space caused by the settlmg 
is then filled, the cask headed up and put in a cool place imtil ready for 
shipment. 

The Siberian salmon caviar makers, use a small quantity of "pre- 
servaline" in each keg for the purpose of aiding in preserving them, 
as cold-storage facilities aie quite primitive as yet in that country, 
and it is the addition of this powder which forms the mysterious part 
to the uninitiated. No preservative would be needed in Alaska, 
however, as the kegs could be shipped in cold storage along with the 
mild-cured salmon. 

Several establishments are putting up these eggs in jars and her- 
metically sealed cans for use as bait in sport fishing. 

In 1916 one of the companies operating in Alaska put up some 
salmon melt in cans. No difficulty was experienced in cannmg this 

Eroduct and it met with considerable favor from those who tried it, 
ut nothing has been done with it since. 

MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS. 

A few years ago a company on the Columbia River put up what 
was known as "fish pudding." In preparing this the salrnon was 
ground fine, mixed with milk and eggs, and then packed in tin cans. 
The preparation was soon abandoned. 

In 1903 one of the Point Roberts canneries packed a new product 
which was called " salmon. paste. " For this the fish was ground up, 
cooked, seasoned with spices, etc., and made into fish balls, a very 
palatable dish when warmed over. 

In 1905 a Seattle concern began the manufacture of wienerwurst 
sausages from halibut and salmon. 

The Indians in the Bristol Bay region of Alaska occasionally dress 
the skins of salmon and make of them leather for the tops of boots, 
also bags and other small articles. 

A product, which was first made in Norway, is prepared by means 
of an invention which quickly diies and pulverizes the flesh of fresh 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 141 

fish. The resulting powder, called "fish flour," is easy to transport 
from one place to another and has great nutritive value, it is 
probable that the tailpieces of the fish, which are at present thrown 
away, and the cheaper grades of salmon might be prepared in this 
way and thus furnish another market for salmon. 

, ' MEAL, FERTILIZER, AND OIL. 

As early as 1888 there was a small plant at Astoria, Oreg., where 
the refuse of the canneries was utilized for the manufacture of oil and 
fertilizer. In that year 8,000 gallons of oil (chiefly from salmon 
heads) and 90 tons of fertilizer were prepared. The oil was worth 
22^ cents per gallon and the fertilizer had a market value of $20 

fier ton. Most of the refuse was dumped into the river, however, 
n 1898 a similar plant was establishea in the Puget Sound district 
of Washington. At present the plants of the Robinson Fisheries Co. 
at Anacortes; the Pacific American Fisheries at Eliza Island, near 
Bcllingham; the Wannenwetsch Reducing Co., at Blaine; and the 
Japanese-American Fertilizer Co. on Lummi Island, all on Pu^^'et 
Sound, operate quite largely on the offal from the Sound salmon can- 
neries. 

In 1882 the Alaska Oil & Guano Co. established a fertilizer plant at 
Killisnoo, Alaska, for the extraction of oil and fertilizer from herring, 
and has operated the plant continuously ever since. In some years 
large quantities of whole salmon have been handled at this plant, 
and the resulting product was found to sell as well as that from 
herring. 

In Alaska the Fish Canners By-Products (Ltd.), in 1914 buDt a 
large plant at Ward Cove, near Ketchikan, where salmon offal is 
used in the preparation of fertilizer, meal, and oil. The company is 
now experimenting in the preparation of various chemical products 
from the raw material. 

Probably the most serious evil in the salmon industry to-day is the 
enormous wastage which annually occurs. About one-fourth of the 
total weight of each fish handled at the various packing plants is 
thrown away. With the exception of the tailpiece, which is dis- 
carded at some canneries owing to the excessive amount of bone 
which would be in the product if canned, this waste material could 
not be utilized as food, comprising as it does the head, viscera, fins, 
and tail. When not conveniently near the very few fertilizer plants 
at present in operation this product is either allowed to pass through 
chutes into the water under the cannery, or is dumped into scows and 
towed to the ocean or the deeper waters of the sounds, and there 
thrown overboard. This procedure is not only exceedingly wasteful, 
but is also far from beneficial to the waters where deposited. 

The great desideratum in the salmon fisheries of the Pacific coast 
at the present time is the invention of a small odorless fertilizer 
plant, costing not more than $2,500 or $3,000, which can be installed 
at the vario\is salmon canneries and saltories. The offal from the 
cannery could there be utilized and the product obtained would 
doubtless net a fair return on such an investment, while at the same 
time the present (in the aggregate) enormous waste would be stopped, 
and the waters adjac(>nt to the canneries rendered far more agreeable 
to the fishes as well as to the people on shore. It is absolutely essen- 



142 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

tial that the phnnt shall be odorless ; as the smell of the ordinary fer- 
tilizer establishment would be very offensive to persons visiting the 
cannery and would not enhance the demsmd for canned salmon. At 
the present time the cheapest plant available costs about S10,000, and 
very few canneries can afford to invest this sum of money in the dis- 
posal of their own offal alone. 

A great impetus has been given to the industry during the last two 
years, owing to the big demand which has come from the farmers 
and poultrymen for fish meal or scrap, which, after it has been mixed 
with other ingredients, can be fed to cattle, hogs, and poultry. Ex- 
periments carried out at various agricultural experiment stations, 
both here and in Europe, show conclusively that this class of food in- 
creases the appetite of the animal, and consequently the weight, 
while it does not affect the flavor of the flesh of the animals, 

SHIPPING FRESH SALMON DIRECT TO CONSUMER. 

An important new. feature m the salmon industry is the shipping 
of individual salmon direct to consumers by express, or, for certain 
short distances, by parcel post, for a certain fixed sum, which in- 
cludes the fish itself and the cost of delivering same to the buyer. 

This business began in Tacoma, Wash., in 1914, and those who 
originated it advertised throughout the country that they would 
ship a fresh salmon to any express office in the United States (except 
Southern Express), express prepaid, for SI. 25, weight 7 to 8 pounds. 
In 1915 the cost, delivered east of the Mississippi River, was raised 
to SI. 50 each, the old rate of SI. 25 still being in force for shipments 
west of the Mississippi River. The price has since been increased 
to $2.50 for any place in the United States. The number of shippers 
has increased very much, and the business is now carried on from a 
number of places in Washington, Oregon, and California. 

In shipping an individual fish, it is packed in a box containing 20 
pounds of cracked ice. These boxes are collected by the express 
companies and are generally sent ovit in their own regular cars 
attached to trains leaving in the evening. About every 15 to 20 
hours the box is opened and from 5 to 7 pounds, depending upon 
the weather, of cracked ice added to the box to make up the loss 
through melting. 

As the Post Oflfice Department will not accept packages in Avhich 
ice is used for preserving fish, the use of the parcel post for ship- 
ments of individual fish is limited to the first postal zone (up to .50 
miles from the initial point), except in winter, when the postmasters 
are authorized, in their discretion, to accept shipments for the 
second zone (50 to 100 miles from the initial point). In making 
fresh-fish shipments by parcel post, frozen fish are generally used. 

Most of the orders comis from the Middle West, where fresh fish 
are not abundant, but orders are received from all sections of the 
country. 

The success met with in shipping fresh salmon led to a considerable 
expansion of the industry, with tlie result that now one can obtain 
not only a fresh salmon, but also may purchase salt, smoked, end 
kippered salmon, salt codfish, and fresh halibut, smelt, crabs, and 
other sea food in their season. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 

NUTRITIVE QUALITIES OF SALMON. 



143 



More and more attention is being paid by the consumino; public 
to the nutritive qualities of the food products offered them, and this 
is especially true as regards fishery products. 

The proper functions of food are two-fold, first, to furnish protein 
for building and repairing the body, and second, to supply energy 
for heat and muscular work. Foods which supply an abundance of 
both at a reasonable price are of the greatest importance from an 
economigal standpoint. 

ANALYSES OF CANNED AND FRESH PACIFIC SALMON. 

Despite the great prominence of the salmon industry, but little 
time has been devoted to it by the chemist. 

Prof. W. O. Atwater was the first American investigator to devote 
anv portion of his energies to the analysis of Pacific salmon. In 
"Principles of Nutrition and Nutritive Value of Food" (Farmers 
Bulletin No. 142, United States Department of Agriculture, 1901), 
he gives the following analysis of canned Pacific coast salmon : 

Water, 63.5 per cent; protein, 21.8 per cent; fat, 12.1 per cent; ash, 2.6 per cent; 
fuel value per pound, 915 calories. « 

C. F. Langworthy, in "Fish as Food" (Farmers Bulletin No. 85, 
United States Department of Agriculture, 1898), gives the following 
analyses of fresh and canned Pacific coast salmon: 

Fresh salmon, California (sections): Refuse (bone, skin, etc.), 5.2 per cent; water, 
60.3 per cent; protein, 16.5 per cent; fat, 17 per cent; mineral matter, 1 per cent; 
total nutrients, 34.5 per cent; fuel value per pound, 1,025 calories. 

Canned salmon: Refuse (bone, skin, etc.), 3.9 per cent; salt, 1 per cent; water, 
59.3 per cent; protein, 19.3 per cent; fat, 15.3 percent; mineral, 1.2 percent; total 
nutrients, 35.8 per cent; fuel value per pound, 1,005 calories. 

Dr. Harvey W. Wiley gives the following as the composition of a 
Pacific coast salmon (species not given) : ^ 

Fresh — Water, 63.61 per cent; protein, 17.46 per cent; fat, 17.87 per cent; ash, 1.06 
per cent. Dr^' — Protein, 52.31 per cent; fat, 49.05 per cent; ash, 2.92 per cent. 

On page 137 of the same work Dr. Wiley gives the following as 
the mean of three samples of Pacific coast canned salmon: 

Composition of canned salmon. — Mean of three samples. Water-free substance: 
Protein, 53.52 per cent; fat, 40.52 per cent; ash, 6.24 per cent. 

Prof. Knisely,*^ of the Oregon State Agricultural College at Cor- 
vallis, Oreg., analyzed canned salmon packed at the P\mtcr Bay 
(Alaska) cannery of the Thlinket Packing Co., with the following 
results: 



Species. 


Moisture. 


Protein. 


Fat. 


Ash. 




Per cent. 
64.74 
68.22 
69.43 
67.08 


Per cent. 
24.19 
26. 56 
24.00 
25. 06 


Per cent. 
9.11 
3.61 
4.86 
6.59 


Per cent. 
2.06 




1.66 




1.68 




1.26 







o The unit used to show the fuel value is the "calorie," which is the amount of heat required to raise the 
temperature of about 1 pound of water 4° F. 
t> Foods and their Adulteration, etc., p. 135. By Harvey W. Wiley. 8% Philadelphia, 1907. 
c Pacific Fisherman, Vol. VI, No. 1, January, 1908, p. 21. 



144 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



H. M. Loomis, formerly chief of the Seattle food and drug inspec- 
tion laboratory, Bureau of Chemistry, United States Department of 
Agriculture, reports as follows on analyses of both canned and fresh 
Pacific salmon made at this laboratory.** 



CANNED SALMON (1911 PACK.) a 





Water. 


Ethyl 

ether 

extract. & 


Protein 

(Nx6.25). 


Total 
ash. 


NaCl.c 


Ammoniacal 
nitrogen. 


Sample. 


Richard- 
son* 
method. 


Alcohol 

vapor 

method. 


No. 1. Puget Sound sockeye — 
No. 2. Puget Sovmd sockeve 


Per cent. 
62.44 
61.84 
69.97 
73.48 

74.12 

70.88 


Per cent. 

15. 17 

13.74 

7.81 

2.88 

4.75 
5.26 


Per cent. 
20.25 
21.77 
20.40 
21.33 

19.75 
21.79 


Per cent. 
2.50 
2.73 
2.58 
2.57 

1.98 
2.35 


Per cent. 

0.79 

1.10 

1.09 

.83 

.50 
.64 


Per cent. 

0. 0403 

.0437 

.04965 

.0563 

.0404 
.0455 


Per cent. 

0.0348 

. 0410 


No. 4. Alaska chum 


.0557 


No. 5. Alaska pink or hump- 
back 




No. 6. Alaska red 









FRESH SALMON (CAUGHT MAY 7, 1912), EDIBLE PORTIONS. 



Puget Sound sockeye 

Puget Soimd steelhead or sal- 
mon trout 



Per cent. 
67.48 



67.89 



Per cent. 
8.86 



9.39 



Per cent. 
22.24 



21.80 



Per cent. 
1.36 



L35 



Per cent. 



Per cent. 
0. 0121 



.0135 



Per cent. 
0.0205 



.0218 



o Each sample is average o£ two or more cans. All samples, except No. 2, are old form 1-pound tall cans. 
No. 2 is i-poimd flat cans. 
* Represents the fat. 
« Represents the salt. 

ANALYSES OF CANNED SALMON BY SOUTH DAKOTA AUTHORITIES. 

In 1916 the South Dakota Food and Drug Department analyzed a 
considerable number of samples of canned salmon for the purpose of 
determining, if possible, whether inferior grades of the fish were sub- 
stituted for the better grades, and for the further purpose of discover- 
ing some means of identifying the different types of salmon by 
chemical analysis. 

Thirty-three samples of commercial canned salmon, including 30 different brands, 
were analyzed. Thirteen of these were labeled as belonging to the sockeye class, 
five to the coho, six to the humpback, and one to the chum. Five samples were not 
labeled as to variety. One sample was labeled "Salmon Steaks" and two samples 
were labeled "Fresh Alaska." The last eight samples, because they were not labeled 
to show the common name of the fish contained in the can, were in violation of the 
F. I. D. No. 105 referred to above. 

All of the cans but one were labeled to show the net weight of fish in the can. Six- 
teen per cent of them contained less than the declared amount of contents, but the 
^eatest shortage was but 3.1 per cent of the declared weight, while the greatest excess 
in weight was 18.7 per cent of the declared weight. I'he weight is usually stated 
considerably under the actual amount of the contents. 

The amount of liquid in the cans is an important factor to consider in computing 
the value of the contents. The free liquor in the cans examined varied widely from 
3.95 per cent in sample number 15-209, labeled salmon steaks, to 26.54 per cent in 
sample number 15-63, which was not labeled as to variety. As a rule, the largest 
amount of free liquor is found in the lower priced grades, but there are exceptions, 
notably number 15-70, which contained 24.14 per cent of free liquor. 

It will be noticed from the results given in the table that the amount of total moisture 
varies inversely as the amount of fat (called ether extract in the table). That is, 
salmon containing an excessive amount of moisture contains little fat, but those sam- 
ples which contain the lower amounts of moisture contain the largest amounts of fat. 
The protein content seems to be fairly constant in all samples, the average amount 

o Salmon Canning Industry of North America. By H. M. Loomis. Original communications, 
Eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry, Washington and New York, Sept. 4 to 13, 1912, 
Vol. XVIII, pp. 239-245. The Rumford Press, Concord, N. H. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



145 



ein? 19.34 per cent, while the minimum found is 15.66 per cent and the maximum 
2.45 per cent. The total phosphoric acid varies from 4.2 per cent to 9.8 per cent, 
le average being 6.6 per cent. . . , . . , , ,., 

As would be expected, the samples containing the larger proportions of fat liberate 
le larger ciuantities of heat units, or calories, per pound, and it will 1)e noted that the 
rice is not in all cases an accurate measure of value, some of the higher priced varie- 
les being in reality much lower in actual cost, when their food value is taken into 
onsideration, than some of the cheaper varieties." 

The table below has been condensed from that shown in the report, 
^'he brand, name of the jobber, and the data about these samples, 
/here tlic species is not shown on the label, have been eliminated, as 
hey were not essential to our purpose. All of the other data have 
•een reproduced exactly as they appeared in the original report. 
Jot a single one of the samples apparently bore the packer's label, 
,11 being jobber's labels. 



Labora- 
ory No. 



15-56 

15-210 

15-209 

1,5-60 

15-72 

16-65 

15-59 

15-64 

16-204 

15-58 

16-220 

15-64 

16-222 

15-219 

15-207 

15-221 

16-205 

1.5-70 

15-61 

15-20H 

1.5-206 

l.S-214 

15-57 



Variety. 



Red 

Fancy sockoyc . 
Salmon steaks. . 

Fancy red 

Sockeyc 

...do 

Redsockeyo. .. 

...do 

Red Alaska 

Coho salmon ... 
Red -M.aska. ... 
Coho salmon . . . 
Pink salmon. .. 

Red salmon 

Fink salmon. .. 

Chum 

Red salmon 

....do 

Pink salmon . . . 
Gorbouscha '' . . 
Alaska salmon <• 

....do 

Pink Alaska. .. 



Total 
moisture. 



Per cent. 
52. 32 
59.29 
60.45 
60.46 
60.80 
60.95 
61.60 
62.18 
65.44 
65. 65 
66.12 
67. IS 
69.53 
69. S7 
70.45 
70.52 
70. 86 
71. 45 
71.64 
73.17 
73. 30 
73.76 
74.08 



Ether 
extract. 



Per cent. 

17.68 

16.83 

17.96 

15.40 

18.19 

15.94 

15.48 

13.10 

10.57 

9.62 

8.63 

9.59 

6.62 

6.36 

7.28 

4.57 

4.04 

4.47 

4.35 

5.33 

2.43 

3.98 

3.90 



Protein. 



Per cent. 
19.50 
18.28 
17.31 
18.22 
19.15 
18.56 
16.89 
19.13 
20.31 
17.32 
21.22 
17.60 
20.48 
20.38 
17.66 
19.73 
21.11 
20. 75 
18.31 
17.35 
21.22 
18.31 
15.66 



Ash. 



Soluble. Insoluble. 



Per cent. 
2.15 
1.63 
1.47 
1.33 

.81 
1.50 
1.99 
1.45 
2.15 
1.61 
1.73 
1.18 
1.85 
2.24 
1.53 

.80 
l.CO 
2.15 
1.56 
1.27 
1.45 
1.62 
1.50 



Per cent. 

0.81 
.88 
.33 

2.89 
.78 

1.11 
.57 
.65 
.51 

1.33 
.62 

1.20 
.78 
.57 
.90 
.72 

1.13 

1.60 

1.01 
.45 
.96 
.54 

1.02 



Labora- 
;orv No. 



1.5- ,56 

1.V210 

15-209 

15-60 

1.5-72 

15-65 

15-.59 

15- 64 

15-204 

1.5-58 

1.5-220 

15-64 

15-222 

15-219 

1.5-207 

15-221 

15-205 

1,5-70 

15-61 

15-208 

15-206 

15-214 

15-57 



Variety. 



Red 

Fancy sockryo . . 
Salmon steaks... 

Fancy red 

Sockeyc. 

...do 

Red sockeve. . .. 

...do 

Red Alaska 

Coho salmon 

Red Alaska 

Coho salman 

Pink salmon . . .. 

Red salmon 

Pink salmon 

Chum. 

Red salmon 

. ...do 

Pink s;ihnon . . .. 

Ciort)oiisclia'' 

Alaska salmon <• 

....do 

Pink Alaska 



Phosplioric acid, d 
Soluble. Insohible. 



Per 



cent. 
4.2 
4.2 
3.7 
2.8 
3.1 
2.2 
3.6 
3.2 
4.0 
2.5 
1.9 
2.4 
1.8 
2.0 
3.4 
1.0 
3.3 
2.7 
2.4 
2.9 
2.7 
1.7 
2.0 



Per cent. 
3.5 
4.0 
1.5 
3.8 
3.7 
,5.3 
2.6 
3.5 
2.3 
5.7 
2.8 
5.9 
3.6 
2.7 
4.1 
4.1 
3.2 
3.1 
4.7 
2.1 
4.4 
2.5 
4.5 



Sodium 
chloride. 



Per cent. 

1.45 
.81 
.51 
.53 
.14 
.68 

1.10 
.60 

1.15 

1.02 
.82 
. .53 
.90 

1.26 

.74 

Trace. 

.65 

1.17 
.84 
.45 
.66 
. 75 
.85 



Calories 
per lb. 



Number. 
1,110 

1,050 
1,0S0 
<)'.)0 
1,125 
1,020 
965 
910 
825 
730 
760 
730 
660 
.545 
635 
565 
560 
575 
525 
5.50 
500 
510 
455 



Price 
per lb. 



Value. 
SO. 31 
.30 
.36 
.29 
.25 
.29 



.30 
'.'2,5 



.30 
.30 
.15 



a Bulletin, South Dakota Food and Drue Department, Vol. IV, Nos. 2 and 3, October- December, 1916, 

pp. s-n. 
b Probably pink salmon (author). c Probably chum salmon (author). 4 Mgm. of Pj Osper gram. 

11312"— 21 — ;q 



146 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



ANALYSIS OF SALTED SALMON. 

Falkejiburg & Co., of Seattle, have recently made an analysis of tlw 
food value of salted salmon, as follows:" 

Regarding the salmon recently inspected and analyzed for you by ourselves witl: 
the following results: 

Protein 21. 97 per cent. 

Fat 4. 34 per cent. 

Salt 19. 08 per cent. 

Ash 84 per cent. 

Moisture 54. 35 per cent. 

Calories per pound 592 

If this salmon were freshened, as is the custom in preparing it for the table, removing 
all but about 2 per cent of the salt, the fish would then have the following analysis: 

Protein 27. 13 per cent. 

Fat .' 5. 36 per cent. 

Salt 2. 47 per cent. 

Moisture 65. 11 per cent. 

Ash 1. 03 per cent. 

Calories per pound 734 

Bulletin No. 28 of the United States Department of Agriculture, "Chemical Compo- 
sition of American Food Products" gives on page 51 the food value of the average 
canned salmon as purchased as follows: 

Refuse 14. 2 per cent. 

Protein 19. 5 per cent. 

Fat 7. 5 per cent. 

Ash 2. per cent. 

Moisture 56. 8 per cent. 

Calories per pound 680 

STATISTICS OF THE SALMON OUTPUT. 

SALMON CATCH IN 1918. 

The following tables show the total catch, by species, of salmon and 
steelhead trout on the Pacific coast of North America in 1918, and thei 
catch, by apparatus and species, for each geographic section of Alaska 
and Washington in 1918: 

Summary, by Section and Species, of Pacific Coast Salmon Catch in 1918. 



Section. 


Pounds. 


Section. 


Pounds. 


Alaska: 


17,470,086 
113,286,544 
193,265,448 

16,010,764 
176,690,325 


Washington— Continued. 


1,446,733 
4,127,280 








Total 




49,609,847 








34,551,253 




516, 723, 167 






13,026,076 


Washington: 


12,621,704 

10,153,240 

353,568 

20,907,322 


British Columbia: Salmon b 


152,992,500 








766,902,843 









a Pacific Fisherman, Seattle, Wash., Vol. XVn, No. 4, April, 1919, p. 76. 
b Species not given separately, 
c £stimated. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



147 



Salmon Catch in 1918, by Apparatus and Species, for Each Geographic Sec- 
tion OF Alaska." 



Apparatus and species. 



Southeast 
Alaska. 



Central 
Alaska. 



Western 
Alaska. 



Total. 



Seines: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Humpback, or pink. 

King, or spring 

Red, or sockeye 



Total. 



Gill nets: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Humpback, or pink 

King, or spring 

Red , or sockeye 



Total. 



Pound nets: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Humpback, or pink. 

King, or spring 

Red, or sockeye 



Total. 



Lines: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Humpback, or pink. 

King, or spring 

Red, or sockeye 



Total. 



Dip nets: 

Coho, or silver... 
King, or spring.. 
Red, or sockeye. 



Total. 



Wheels: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Humpback, or pink. 
King, or spring 



Total. 



Total: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Humpback, or pink. 

King, or spring 

Red, or sockeye 



Grand total. 



Pounds. 

2,239,596 

42,507,872 

53, 774, 192 

368,830 

■ 3,979,215 



Pounds. 

546,966 

15, 239, 240 

19,615,380 

32,296 

9,528,400 



Pounds. 

23,454 

1, 744, 448 

443,504 

119, 658 

4, 492, 510 



102,869,705 



1,495,494 

1, 5.89, 760 

365, 540 

460, 570 

2, 583, 605 



44,962,282 



2, 757, 504 
2, 199, 696 
118,388 
1, 983, 190 
8, 688, 790 



6,823,574 



763, 164 

5, 459, 944 

885, 992 

2.040,808 

117, 100, 100 



6, 494, 969 



15,747,568 



126,250,008 



4,198,356 

29, 164, 536 

96,348,688 

696, 674 

7,113,930 



2,030,592 

11,275,288 

19,941,668 

614,922 

20,191,895 



60,000 

1,681,560 

1,722,468 

217, 844 

1,892,915 



137, 522, 184 



54, 054, 365 



5,574,787 



1,802,370 
236, ( 00 
37, 076 

8,177,818 
105,540 



10,358,804 



51, 018 

194, 580 

1,013,425 



1,260,023 



9,735,816 
73, 498, 168 
150, 525, 496 

9,703,892 
13, 782, 290 



257,245,662 



5,380,080 
28,714,224 
39, 675, 136 

2 825, 988 
39, 422, 510 



116,024,238 



1,501,572 

2, 188, 200 

12, 552 

1,102,574 



348, 190 
074, 152 
064, 516 
480,884 
485, 525 



143,453,267 



Pounds. 
2, 810, 016 
59,491,560 
73, 833, 076 
5211,784 
18,000,125 



154,655,561 



5,016,162 
9, 249, 400 
1,369,920 
4, 484, 568 
128,372,495 



148, 492, 545 



6,288,948 

42,121,384 

118,012,824 

1, 529, 440 

29,198,740 



197,151,336 



1,802,370 
236,000 
37, 076 

8,177,818 
105,540 



10,358,804 



51,018 

195, 580 

1,013,425 



1,260,023 



1,501,572 

2, 188, 200 

12, 552 

1, 102, 574 



4,804,898 



17, 470, 086 
113,286,544 
193, 265, 448 

16, 010, 764 
176,690,325 



516, 723, 167 



a Figiu-ed from data in "Alaska Fisheries and Fiu- Industries in 1918," pp. 42, 43. By Ward T. 
Bower. U. S. Bureau of Fi.shenes Document No. 872, Appendix VII, Report U. S. Commissioner of 
Fisheries, 1918. Washington, 1919. In changing from number of fish to pounds the species were figured 
on the following basis: Coho, 6 pounds; chum, 8 pounds; humpback, 4 pounds: king, 22 pounds; and 
red, b pounds. 



148 



V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Salmon Catch in 1918, by Apparatus and Species for Each Geographic 
District op Washington. 



Apparatus and species. 



Seines, drag: 

Coho, or silver 

Cliuni, or keta 

Chinook, or spring... 
Humpback, or pink . 

Sookeye, or red 

Steelhead , 



Total. 



Seines, purse: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Chinook, or spring. 
Humpback, or pint 

Sockeye, or red 

Steelhead 



Total. 



Pound, or trap, nets: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Chinook, or spring. 
Humpback, or pinl 

Sockeye, or red 

Steelhead 



Total. 



Gill nets: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Chinook, or spring. . . 
Humpback, or pink . 

Sockeye, or red 

Steelhead 



Total. 



Set nets: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Chinook, or sjirine. 
Humpback, or pint 
Sockeye, or red — 
Steelhead 



Total. 



Reef nets: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or kota 

Chinook, or spring. 
Humpback, or pini 
Sockeye, or red — 



Total. 



Fish wheels: 

Coho, or silver 

Chinook, or sprinc 
Sockeye, or red . . . 
Steelhead 



Total. 



g nets: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Chinook, or spring. 
Steelhead 



Total. 



Puget 
Sound. 



Pounds. 

US, (m 

478,304 

21,208 

92 

385 



Grays 
Harbor. 



Pounds. 



648,075 I. 



Willapa 
Harbor. 



Columbia 
River. 



Pounds. 

41.898 

5,6!)0 

470, 44S 

908 

67,845 

158, 508 



745,267 



3, 083, 838 

6, 398, 664 

325, 182 

12,388 

225, 365 

95,320 



145, 90S 



952, 116 

1,540 

935 

27, 840 



10,140,757 I j I 1,128,339 



Total. 



Poundn. 
189, 984 
483,904 
491,6.56 
1,000 
68,230 
158,568 



1,393,342 



3,229,746 

6,398,664 

1,277,298 

13, 928 

226,300 

123, 160 



11,269,096 



4,219,038 
1,390,256 
8,392,098 
240, 724 
2,479,550 
95, 864 



16,817,530 



55, 272 
22, 920 
50, 754 



253,404 
132, 528 
180, 488 



56 



129,002 



1,072,860 

749, 104 

856,812 

6,072 

88, 260 

19, 624 



423,570 
102,256 
415,866 



4,125 
4,120 



2, 792, 732 



949, 937 



586, 776 

211,568 

332, 662 

2,216 

770 

66, 528 



1,200,520 



327, 780 

95,936 

168, 652 

644 

1,630 

26, 832 



577,398 

93,496 

2, 109, 294 

688 

90,355 

432,016 



5,105,112 
1,639,200 
10, 732, 634 

241,412 
2, 569, 906 

528, 048 



3,303,247 20,816,311 



102, 162 
40, 640 
133,408 



15 

344 



310, 698 
262,336 
4,783,284 
12,320 
534,115 
396, 824 



6,299,577 



133, 508 
130, 888 
28,930 



470 
4,552 



621,474 



298,348 



11,340 

13,024 
103, 004 

26, 072 
105, 975 

62,256 



321,671 



75, 804 
7,312 
33,330 
49, 792 
10,180 



176,418 



1,909,290 

1,154,336 

6,189,370 

18,392 

626, 515 

420,912 



10,318,815 



1,059,404 
451,416 
633, 248 
28, 932 
108, 845 
160, 168 



2,442,013 



75, 804 
7,312 
33, 330 
49, 792 
10, 180 



176,418 



212,410 
508,915 
53,408 



212,410 
508,915 
53,408 



774, 799 



300 

16, 400 

66 



16, 766 



3,558 



300 

16,400 

2,816 

808 

20, 324 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



149 



Salmon Catch in 1918, By Apparatus and Species for Each Geographic 
District of Washington — Continued. 



Apparatus and species. 



Hooks and lines: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Chinook, or spring.. 
Ilumpbaok, or pink 

Sockeye. or red 

Steelhead 

Total 

Total: 

Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Chinook, or spring. . 
Humpback, or pink 

Sockeye, or red 

Steelhead 

Grand total 



Puget 
Sound. 



Pounds. 

638, 436 

960 

391,312 

112 

2,6-15 



1,033,529 



9, 825, 138 
9, 252, 568 
lU,3.'->2,670 

311,396 
2, 807, 155 

277, 400 



32, 826, 327 



Grays 
Harbor. 



Pounds. 
34,170 



8,160 



840, 792 
222, 000 
643.432 
644 
5,755 
31,008 



1,743,631 



Willapa 
Harbor. 



Pounds. 
3,036 



4,220 



492,110 
304,0,56 
344, 010 



5,( 



1, 145, 669 



Columbia 
River. 



Pounds. 
376,356 
160 
933, 904 



5,745 
1,597 



1,317,762 



1,463,664 
,374,616 
9,567,210 
41,528 
1,313,885 
1,133,317 



13,894,220 



Total. 



Pounds. 

1,051,998 

2,008 

1,334,560 

112 

8,390 

1,661 



2, 398, 729 



12,621,704 

10,153,240 

20,907,322 

353, 568 

4, 127, 280 

1,446,733 



49, 609, 847 



BRISTOL BAY WATERS SALMON CATCH, 1913 TO 1917. 

Broadly speaking, about one-thii'd of the yield of salmon from 
Alaskan waters comes from the important Bristol Bay region. The 
following table shows the catches made in the more important waters 
fished in the Bristol Bay district in the period of five years from 
1913 to 1917: 

Salmon Catch, by Streams, in Bristol Bay Region, 1913 to 1917. <» 



Species and stream. 



Red salmon: 

Nushagak 

Igushik 

Kvichak-Naknek. 

Ugaguk 

Ugashik , 



Total. 



King salmon: 

Nushagak , 

Igushik 

Kvichak-Naknek. 

Ugaguk 

Ugashik 



Total. 



Coho salmon: 

Nushagak 

Kvichak-Naknek. 
Ugaguk , 



Total. 



Pink and chum salmon- 

Nushagak 

Igushik 

Kvichak-N aknek 

Ugaguk 

Ugashik 



Total 

Grand total. 



1913 



Number. 

5, 236, 008 

173,925 

13,691,050 

902, 728 

577,615 



20, 581, 326 



1914 



Number. 

6,174,097 

283, 718 

12, 584, 809 

897, 767 

254, 716 



20, 195, 107 



67, 622 

34 

5, 648 

251 

691 



89, 599 

94 

10, 657 

405 

1,209 



74, 249 



66,640 

2 

165 



101,964 



81,434 

17,462 

165 



1915 



Number. 
5,676,457 

228, 405 
7, 156, 488 
1, 216, 252 

509, 076 



14, 786, 678 



116,281 

106 

29,392 

510 

1,739 



148, 028 



117, 172 
13,271 



66,807 



683,201 



13,940 
7, 4.'iO 
14, 704 



99,061 



130,443 



932, 477 



173, 831 
7,450 
14, 613 



444,146 



232,082 
12, 004 
18,212 



718,295 1,128,371 



706, 444 



21,441,677 21,524,503 , 15,771,593 



1916 



Number. 
3, .592, 574 

223,343 

11,551,086 

1, 578, 862 

647, 422 



17,593,287 



81,591 
330 

20,934 

365 

1,904 



105, 124 



,210 

288 



Number. 
5,679,818 
167,421 
15, 762, 582 
1, 856, 600 
1,047,111 



24,513,532 



73, 839 
477 

16, 155 
143 
531 



91, 145 



Total. 



Number. 

26,358,954 
1,076,812 

60, 746, 015 
6, 452, 209 
3,035,940 



97,669,930 



428, 932 
1,041 



1,677 
6,074 



62, 260 
3 



62,263 



1,818,566 
738 
,117 
,500 
,196 



304, 

7, 
49, 



2,180,117 



303,437 

183 

83,019 

5,726 

879 



393,244 



20,172,026 i 25,060,184 



620, 716 

31,026 

330 



652,072 



4,181,827 

921 

806,989 

40, 130 

97,604 



5,127,471 



103,969,983 



a From "Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1917," p. 32. By Ward l". Bower and Henry D. Aller. 
Appendix II, Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1917. Washington, 1918. 



150 



TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
PACK OF CANNED SALMON IN 1919. 



The following table shows, by species, grades, and sizes, the pack 
of canned salmon for the Pacific coast of North America in 1919: 

Pack op Canned Salmon on the Pacific Coast in 1919.» 



Species, grade.s, and sizes. 


Alaska. 


Puget 
Sound. 


Hoh 
River. 


Queets 
River. 


Quin- 

ault 

River. 


Grays 
Harbor. 


WiUapa 
Harbor. 


Colum- 
bia 
River. 


Coho, silver, or medium red: 


Cases. 

10,087 

10,357 

209,694 


Cases. 

15,640 

.32,936 

162,307 


Cases. 


Cases. 
175 


Cases. 


Cases. 
2,548 
2,167 
7,499 


Cases. 


Cases. 
14,387 










27,471 




233 


850 


775 


2,927 


48, 870 






Total 


230, 138 


210,883 


233 


1,025 


775 


12,214 


2,927 


90, 728 






Chinook or king, red: 
Fancy- 
















143,558 




8,323 
20,259 

7,422 

2,961 

112,768 














130 056 
















38, 749 


Standard — 


21,685 
8,398 
35,874 




450 





1,454 

506 

2,410 




24,279 










25,038 
30, 445 








165 


i,i52 










Total 


151,733 


65,957 




450 


165 


4,370 


1,152 


392, 125 








Chinook or king, white: 




172 
2,413 














































Total 




2,585 






























Chum or keta: 


3,846 


3,403 

3,242 

518,896 








6 

2,739 

25,967 




3,018 












2,129 




1,344,616 


332 


50 


650 


9,125 


70,346 






Total 


1,348,462 


525,541 


332 


50 


650 


28, 712 


9,125 


75,493 






Humpback or pink: 


27,776 

7,548 

1,622,110 


17,379 

41,574 

362,262 






























18 
























Total 


1,657,434 


421,215 


18 
























Sockeye or red: 


116,205 
109,933 
978, 205 


43,556 
13,688 
7,102 




100 


1,144 






7,268 








































Total 


1,204,343 


64,346 




100 


1,144 






7,268 












Steelhead trout: 
















7,212 






5,099 












5,896 




91 












1,306 


















Total 


91 


5,099 












14,414 
















Grand total. ......... 


4,592,201 


1,295,626 


583 


1,625 


2,734 


45,296 


13,204 


580, 028 







(Reduced to a common basis of forty-eight 1-pound cans to the case. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 161 
Pack of Canned Salmon on the Pacific Coast in 1919— Continued. 


Neha- 
Spec'ies, grades, and sizes. lem 
River. 


Tilla- 
mook 
Bay. 


Ne-s- 
tugga 
River. 


ALsea 

Bay and 

River. 


Siletz 
River. 


Sius- 

law 

River. 


Umpqna 
River. 


Coquille 
River. 


oho, silver, or medium red: Cases. 


Casat. 
4,000 


Cases. 

300 

100 

2,000 


Cases. 

1,658 

525 

424 


Cases. 

300 

200 

5,392 


Cases. 


Cases. 


Cases. 
1,364 












8,124 


3,150 


3,760 


7,500 


3,646 






Total 


8,124 


7,150 


2,400 


2,607 


5,892 


3,760 


7,500 


5,010 


hinook or kin;?, red: 
Standard- 








1,000 


1,500 
100 
300 


1,157 

100 

1,255 


500 
19 

874 






1,027 












500 


500 








Total 








500 


1,500 


1,900 


2,512 


1,393 






1,027 


hum or keta: 










3,150 
1,200 


50 
400 


50 

485 












1,183 


472 






45 


Total 








1,183 


4,350 


450 


535 


472 






45 


Grand total 








9,807 


13,000 


4,750 


5,654 


7,757 


3,760 


7.500 


6,082 








Species, grades, and sizes. 


Rogue 
River. 


Smith 
River. 


Klamath 
Ri\er. 


Sacra- 
mento 
River. 


Noyo 
River. 


Monte- 
rey 
Bay. 


British 
Colum- 
bia. 


Total. 


oho, silver, or medium red: 


Cases. 
227 
444 


Cases. 


Cases. 
625 
520 


Cases. 


Cases. 


Cases. 


Cases. 

92,890 

5,201 

101,902 


Cases. 
144,201 
79, 921 


1-pound Hat 




















569,053 


Total 














671 




1,145 








199,993 


793,175 


hinook or king, red: 
Fancy— 
J-pound flat 












4,000 
3,000 
1,580 

4,710 
3,947 














147,558 
















141,379 
















60,588 


Standard— 
J-pound flat 


4,271 
95 


1,870 
4,421 




4,500 
3,000 




45,726 

2,892 

33,638 


121,551 




401 

768 




51,878 


1-pound tall 


2,000 


222,649 


Total 










17,237 


4,366 


6,291 


1,169 


7,500 


2,000 


82,256 


745,603 


hinook or king, white: 
J-pound flat 














4,016 

346 

13,933 


4,188 


1-pound flat 














346 


1-pound tall 














16,346 


Total 




























18,295 


20,880 


ihum or keta: 

J-pound flat 




























49,257 

11,984 

310,794 


62, 780 


1-pound flat 














20,094 


1-pound tall 














2,284,561 


Total 




























372,035 


2,367,435 


lump back or pink: 

J-pound flat 




























127,435 

14,839 

204,365 


172 590 


1-pound flat 














63,961 


1-pound tall , 














2, 188, 755 


Total 




























346,639 


2,425,306 


iockeyeor red: 

J-poimd Hat 




























293,720 

13,339 

59,945 

1,941 

500 


461,993 


I-pound flat 














136,960 


1-pound tall 














1,045,252 


J-pound oval 














1 941 


1-pound oval 














500 


Total 




























369,445 


1 646,646 


•teelhead trout: 

J-pound flat 




















145 
150 








3,586 
116 
791 


10,943 


1-pound flat 












11,261 


1-pound tall 












2,188 


Total 


















295 








4,493 


24,392 


Grand total 














17,908 


4,366 


7,731 


1,169 


7,500 


2,000 


1,393,156 


8,023,437 

























152 U. S. BUREAU Of FISHERIES. 

CANNING INDUSTRY, 1864 TO 1919. 
SUMMARY OF CANNING INDUSTRY. 

From the beg;inning of the canning of salmon on this coast it hai 
been the most important branch of the industry, and the followim 
table shows in condensed form the number of cases packed in eacl 
year on the Pacific coast of North America from the beginning of tin 
industry in 1864 to 1919, both inclusive. 

As British Columbia is a Province of the Dominion of Canada i 
does not come strictly within the scope of this report, but in order t( 
show the pack of canned salmon on the North American shores o; 
the Pacific Ocean, which would be incomplete without that of th( 
Province, it has been included also. 

Pack op Canned Salmon on the Pacific Coast, by Years and Waters. 



Year. 



1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1881. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1SU3. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Puget 
Sound. 



Coastal 
streams of 
Washing- 
Ion. 



Casex. 



Casis. 



Total 22,192,871 



5,500 

238 

1,300 

5,100 

8,500 

7, !;0(1 

1, 5L0 

5, 5(;0 

12,000 

17, 000 

22,000 

21, 975 

11, 674 

8,000 

20, 529 

26,426 

89, 774 

95,400 

179, 968 

195, 664 

494, 026 

400, 200 

919,611 

469, 450 

, 380, 590 

581, 659 

478, 488 

291,488 

,018,641 

430, 602 

698, 080 

448, 765 

678, 737 

567, 883 

551,028 

416,119 

583, 463 

817, 354 

269, 206 

052,917 

990, 258 

622, 732 

295, 626 



Grays 
Ilarljor. 



Willapa 
Harl)or. 



Cases. Cases. 



8,20;> 
18, 70 J 



37, 000 



18,431 
19,914 
13, 124 
21, 459 
31, 735 
15, 777 
13, 324 
13, 732 
4,942 



152, 438 



5'/0 
Ifi, 5(/0 
22, 000 
21,400 
11,449 
21, 274 
13, 300 
12, 100 
24, 240 

30, sm 

41,500 
31,500 



27, 559 
22, 050 
22, 000 
14,000 
14,000 
21, 436 
55, 480 
75, 941 
47, 287 
19, 895 
32, 434 
40,992 
60,336 
42, 696 
35, 972 
45, 296 



893, 257 



Columhia 
River. 



13,000 



22, 500 



8,000 
14, 500 
16, 195 
15, 100 
22,000 
24, 941 
29, 600 
21, 420 
21,314 
26,300 
34,000 
39,492 

5,890 
26,400 
14,950 
14,440 
13, 382 
20,457 
12, 024 
11,508 
25, 497 
28, 148 
12,050 
16, 837 
12, 842 
18, 553 

8,379 

8,827 
13, 204 



Cases. 
4,000 
18,000 
28,000 
100,000 
150,000 
200, 000 
250, 000 
250, 000 
350, 000 
375,000 
450,000 
380,000 
460,000 
480,000 
530, 000 
550,000 
541,300 
629, 400 
620, 000 
553,800 
448, 500 
356,000 
372,477 
309, 885 
435, 774 
398, 953 
487, 338 
415,876 
490,100 
634,696 
481, 697 
552, 721 
487, 944 
332, 774 
358, 772 
390, 183 
317, 143 
339, 577 
395, 104 
397, 273 
394,898 
324, 171 
277, 719 
274, 196 
391,415 
553, 331 
286, 026 
266,479 
454,621 
558, 534 
547, 861 
553, 346 
591,381 
580,028 



572,950 21,376,293 



Coastal 

streams of 

Oregon. 



Casts. 



Smith 
River, Calili 



Cases. 



7,804 
26,934 
8,571 
7,772 
12, 320 
19, 186 
23, 156 
27, 876 
33,410 
77,547 
73, 996 
92,863 
98,800 
47, 009 
24,500 
83, 600 
52, 778 
54, 815 
77, 878 
91,860 
68, 683 
83, 209 
82, 041 
12, 237 
58, 618 
44, 2.36 
54, 861 
98, 874 
89,055 

107, 332 
79, 712 
83,994 
5.S, 169 

104,617 

138, 146 
84, 074 
38, 492 

106, 617 
80, 499 
81,924 
84, 475 
92,241 
76, 218 



4,27( 
'7,'5JC 



2,750,999 



5, 5jC 
1,55C 



2,34J 



2;ooo 

2, OOO 
2,250 



3,000 
3,033 
2,505 
6,300 
4,65S 
4,366 

51,281 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 153 

Pack of Canned Salmon on the Pacific Coast, by Years and Waters — Con. 



Year. 



Klamath 
River, Calif.' 



1804. 
1865. 
186C. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1,S80. 
ISSl. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 



1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1906. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Total. 



4,400 



1,047 
1,(100 
1,700 
1,600 



1,000 



2,5U0 



Eel River, 
Calif. 



Novo 
River, Calif. 



Casts. 



8,500 
10, .500 



6, 250 



1,5,(K)0 
S,2i)0 
5,750 

12,500 



3,400 



5,633 
8,016 
7,604 

18,000 
6,376 

11,000 

12,900 
8,884 
8,030 

10, 200 
7,731 



122, 221 



6,(K)0 
8,4(X) 
11,0(K.I 



92, 100 



Sacramento 
River. 



Cases. 
2,000 
2,000 



Alaska. 



Cases. 



2,500 
3,000 
10, 000 
21,500 
34,017 
13, 855 
62,000 
181,200 
2(Ki, 000 
12;j,000 
81,450 
90,000 
39,300 
36, 500 
68,075 
57,300 
25,065 
10, 353 
2,281 
23,336 
28, 463 
25, 185 
13,387 
38,543 
29,731 
32,580 
39, 304 
17,500 
14,043 
8,200 
14, 407 
2,780 



2,000 
7,500 



4,142 



950 

17,315 

b 6, 179 

c 19, 445 

d 11, 443 

4,036 

d 3, 169 



8,159 

12, 530 

6,539 

8,977 

21,745 

48,337 

64,886 

83,415 

142,005 

206, 077 

412,115 

719, 190 

682,591 

801,400 

474,717 

643,654 

686, 440 

626,530 

966,707 

909,078 

965,097 

1,078,146 

1,548,139 

2,016,804 

2,536,824 

2, 246, 210 

1,963,756 

1,894,516 

2,219,044 

2, 169, 873 

2,618,048 

2,395,477 

2,413,054 

2,823,817 

4, 054, 641 

3, 739, 185 

4,056,653 

4, 500, 293 

4, 900, 627 

5,947,286 

6,605,835 

4, 592, 201 



British 
Columbia. 



9,500 I 1,419,534 I 74,831,284 



7, 247 

OS, 387 

89, 946 

01,093 

61,849 

169, 576 

240, 461 

163,438 

123,706 

108, 517 

152,964 

204,083 

184,040 

417,211 

411,257 

314,511 

248, 721 

610, 202 

492, 232 

587,692 

617,782 

1, 027, 183 

492, 551 

765,519 

606, 540 

1,247,212 

627, 161 

473,074 

465, 894 

1,167,460 

629,460 

547,459 

542,689 

967,920 

762, 201 

948, 966 

996,576 

1,353,901 

1,111,039 

1,133,381 

995,005 

1,557,485 

1,616,157 

1,393,156 



26, 753, 563 



Total. 



Cases.a 

2,000 

2,000 

4,000 

18,000 

28,000 

100,000 

150,000 

200,000 

250,000 

250,000 

352, 500 

378, 000 

467,247 

481,691 

639, 491 

577, 349 

687,010 

930, 573 

1,030,592 

1,0(13,831 

937,118 

896,642 

922, 176 

899, 256 

1,217,792 

1,614,066 

1,609,()96 

1,578,746 

1,355,130 

1,877,415 

1, 887, (;50 

2, 169, 848 

2,413,312 

3,133,134 

2, 492, 252 

3, 257, S25 

3,091,542 

5, 186, 407 

4, 194, 558 

3, 606, 900 

3,276,882 

4,606,725 

3,817,776 

3,846,677 

4, 005, 672 

5,413,592 

4,320,174 

6, 155, 302 

5, 901, 7H5 

8, 033, 915 

6,648,329 

7,649,594 

7,703,894 

10,223,022 

9,607,766 

8, 023, 437 



161,188,291 



o Reduced to a common ba.sis of forty-eight 1-pound cans to the case. 
6 Includes 950 cases packed at Monterey. 
c Includes 12,809 cases packed at Mc^nterey. 
d Includes 2,000 cases packed at Monterey. 



CANNING INDUSTRY, BY SPECIES AND WATERS. 

The tables which, follow show separately, by waters and as far as 
possible by species, the salmoii canned on the Pacific coast from the 
beginning of the industry until 1919. It is only within recent years 
that the published statistics have shown the pack of the different spe- 
cies separately. In the early years of canning the chinook, or quinnat, 
salmon was used exclusively, the other species not being utilized 
until the chinook had begun to decrease in abundance, or a demand 



154 



TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



had arisen for a cheaper product. There is a very great difference 
in the selhng value of the highest and lowest grades, and it is neces- 
sary to have complete statistical data now in order intelligently to 
comprehend the trend of the industry. While every effort has been 
made to make these tables complete, there are, unfortunately, some 
gaps which it was foimd impossible to fill. Such ellipses indicate 
that either the canneries did not operate or that no data were 
available for such periods. 

Although there are only five species of salmon found on the Pacific 
coast, each bears several common names which are in general use in 
one or more of the many fishing districts. Ti'ade names of each 
species as known in each district follow: 



Districts. 


1 


2 


3 


4 


6 




Red 


King 

Spring 

Tyee Spring 

Chinook 

Quinnat 


Coho 


Pink 




British Colunibia 


Sockeve 

do 

Blueback... 
Quinault 


Medium Red. 

Silver. 

Coho 


Humpback 

do .... 


Keta. 


Puget Sound 


do 




Silverside 


(None packed) 

do 


Do. 




do 


Do. 













Pack of Canned Salmon on Puget Sound in Specified Years. 



Year. 



1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
189(i. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901., 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 



Chinook. 



Cases. Value 



240 
1,000 

382 

86 

1,200 



1,542 
13, 495 

9, 5U0 
11,2(W 
24,3ii4 
22, 350 



30,049 
14,500 
14, 441 
1,804 
8,139 
1,814 
95; 210 
13, 019 
10,064 
21,823 
20, 252 
1,234 
27,140 
28, 466 
45,072 
70,918 
62,821 
68,542 



$1,200 

5,000 

2,101 

473 

6,480 



7,325 
67,475 
39,045 
50, 624 
103, 180 
134, 100 



150, 245 

72,500 

69, 352 

9,922 

48,834 

16,326 

666, 470 

72,604 

60,324 

172,582 

101,706 

5,247 

179,532 

145,555 

270, 432 

638, 262 

565, 385 

856,775 



Sockeye. 



Cases. 



Value. 



5,538 

2,951 

47, 852 

41,781 

65, 143 

72, 979 

312,048 

252,000 

499, G46 

229,800 

1, 220, 000 

372,301 

167,211 

109, 264 

825,453 

178, 748 

93, 122 

170, 951 

1,097,904 

248,014 

127, 769 

184, 680 

1,673,099 

339, 787 

64,584 

90,866 

454,336 

52,587 

64,346 



$24, 921 

11,816 

103, 371 

188,014 

273, 108 

350, 299 

1, 248, 192 

1,058,400 

2,308,334 

1,149,000 



2,047,655 
1,003,260 

653, 871 
4,952,718 
1,251,236 

698,416 
1, 196, 057 
6,183,300 
1,673,095 
1, 168, 145 
Ij 660, 173 
10,871,178 
2,751,832 

676,769 

817,790 
4,543,360 

736, 225 
1,029,536 



Medium red or 
silver. 



Cases. 



5,000 

238 

1,300 



7.480 

3,000 

5,869 

7,216 

11,812 

22, 418 

50, 865 

82,640 

91,900 

98,600 

111,387 

128, 200 



85, 817 
103,450 
118,127 

79, 335 

94,197 
119, 472 
128, 922 
143, 133 
162,755 
250, 123 
149, 727 

61,019 
158,933 
180, 783 
208,967 
115,860 
235,795 
■ 210,883 



Value. 



$5,690 



37,400 

15,000 

19, 308 

24, 50J 

59,000 

89, 672 

154, 218 

2Ci4, 448 

282, 133 

335,240 

418, 176 

512, 800 



429,085 
413, 800 
447,851 
337, 174 
472,485 
476, 288 
C44, 922 
630, 440 
895, 153 

1,711,178 
761,200 
235,372 
715,995 
902, 335 

1,044,835 
926, 880 

2,004,258 

2,529,996 



a lacludes 1,892 cases packed with reds brought from Alaska. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



155 



Pack of Canned Salmon on Puget Sound in Specified Years— Continued. 



Year. 



877. 
878. 
879. 
880. 
881. 
882. 
883. 
884. 
885. 
886. 
887. 



Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 



Chum. 



891. 
892. 
893. 
.894. 
,895. 
.896. 
.897. 
.898. 
>899. 
[90(J. 
1901. 
1902. 
[903. 
1904. 
1905. 
[906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Cases. 



Value. 



Pink. 



Cases. 



Value. 



1,145 
4,000 
3,093 
16, 180 
11,380 
22,152 
38,785 
26,650 
23,310 
38,400 
31,481 
89,100 



93,492 
12,001 
49,656 
41,057 
149, 218 
50,249 
47,607 
53, 688 
146,942 
98,321 
60,760 
56, 225 
290,477 
411,724 
564, 194 
218, 977 
264,922 
525,541 



$3, 435 
12, (XX) 
10, 825 
56,630 
31,295 
60,918 
94, 741 
73,013 
64, 103 

105, 600 
86,427 

245,025 



2,809 



467,460 

30,002 

124,254 

102,643 

708, 781 

150,847 

142,821 

128,916 

514, 297 

391, 123 

154, 193 

124, 970 

903, 675 

1,155,474 

2,031,098 

1,270,067 

1,669,009 

3,363,462 



5,647 



17,530 
9,049 
23,633 



57, 268 



252,733 



181,326 
70,992 



433, 423 

6,075 

370,993 

108 

1,046,992 

700 

791,886 

1,017 

583, 649 

143, 804 

1, 130, 163 

6,607 

421,215 



$7,584 
15,246 



47,331 
24, 432 
62,556 



171,804 
734, 24i 



407,984 



Total. 



Cases. 



212,976 



1,300,269 

18, 225 

902,342 

388 

4,302,344 

2,185 

2,092,401 

4,615 

1,795,285 

575,216 

6,780,978 

42,946 

3,369,720 



5,500 

238 

1,300 

5,100 

8,500 

7,900 

1,500 

5,5(X) 

12, (KXJ 

17,000 

22,000 

21,975 

11,674 

8,000 

20,529 

26,426 

89,774 

95,400 

179,968 

195,664 

494,026 

400,200 

919,611 

469,450 

1, 380, 590 

581,659 

478, 488 

291,488 

1,018,641 

430, 602 

698,080 

448,765 

1, 678, 737 

567, 883 

1,551,028 

416,119 

2, 583, 463 

817,354 

1, 269, 206 

1,052,917 

ft 1,990, 258 

622, 732 

c 1, 295, 626 



Value. 



Jo.C.'JO 



126,356 

49,619 

32,000 

72,461 

93,419 

247,637 

303,036 

691,948 

755,235 

1,805,277 

1,549,864 

3,710,358 

1,940,925 



3,094,445 
1,927,546 
1,295,328 
5,615,433 
2,481,336 
2,642,146 
2,669,095 
7,917,608 
3, 143, 256 
7,745,372 
2,079,457 

13,329,168 
4,555,049 
4,675,418 
4,739,455 

14,159,583 
6,017,823 

11, 149, 489 



a Tnchides 14 cases of steelheads valued at $84. The totals also include large quantities of salmon brought 
to the so^dca'^eies from other waters, principally in British Columbia and packed here these when 
DTpmred for market comorisine approximately 141,917 cases of humpbacks or pmks, valued at $566,952; 
m^3^6cases orhums, SdT^^^^^^ and 53.136 cases olsUvers, valued at $87,185; a grand total of 331,368 
cases and $1,193,074. , ., , .o^ 

b Includes 4 cases of steelheads, valued at $36. 

c Includes 6,099 cases of steelheads from sound waters. 

Pack of Canned Salmon on Soleduck River, Wash., in Specified Years.* 





Year. 


Canneries 


Chinook. 


Sockeye. 


Silverside. 




operated. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1912 




1 
1 
1 

1 


414 
206 
237 

388 


$2,484 
1,442 
1,185 
1,940 


15 


$156 


940 
1,040 
1,439 
1,320 


$4,324 












5,574 








6,072 




i. 










Year. 




Pink. 6 


Chum. 


Total. 




operated. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1912 


1 
1 
1 
1 


103 


$268 


76 
28 
103 
192 


$182 

61 

291 

538 


1,548 
1,274 
1,968 
2,726 


$7,414 






1914 


189 
826 


567 
2,478 


7,617 


1915 


11,028 







a None packed since 1915. 



ft These are virtually all light-colored chinooks. 



156 U. S. BUREAU OP FISHERIES. 

Pack of Canned Salmon on Hoh River, Wash., in Specified Years. 



Year. 



1917. 
1918 
1919. 



Canneries 
operated. 



Chinook. 



Cases. Value 



372 
60 
18 



$3,348 
540 
216 



Silverside. 



Cases. 



204 
294 
233 



Value. 



2,499 
2,796 



Chum. 



Cases. 



110 

17 

332 



Value. 



$715 

108 

2,125 



Total. 



Cases. Value, 



371 
583 



$5,728 
3,147 
5,137 



Pack of Canned Salmon on Queets River, Wash., in Specified Years. 



Year. 



1912 
1913, 
1914. 
1915, 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Canneries 
operated. 



Chinook. 



Cases. Value 



750 
1,082 
1,175 



1,506 
713 
381 
450 



$4,500 
7,574 
5,875 



9,036 
6,417 
3,429 
5,400 



Sockeye. 



Cases. Value 



200 

220 

200 

1,512 



20 
100 



$2, 080 
1,848 
2, 134 
9,072 



280 
1,600 



Silverside. 



Cases. Value. 



2,500 
1,680 
1,800 



617 
1,196 
1,138 
1,025 



$11,500 
5,712 
6,968 



3,085 
9,759 
9,673 
12,300 



Year. 



1912 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Canneries 
operated. 



Chum. 



Cases. 



1,000 

670 

1,020 



415 

47 



50 



Value. 



$2, 400 
1,461 

2,887 



1,245 
306 



320 



Steelhead. 



Cases. Value 



600 
500 



129 
a 87 



$3, 300 
2, 750 



1,161 

870 



Total. 



Cases. Value, 



4,450 
4,252 
4,695 
1,512 
2,538 
2,085 
1,626 
1,625 



$20, 480 
19, 895 
20,612 
9,072 
13,366 
17,643 
14, 252 
19,620 



a 68 cases of these were smoked. 
Pack of Canned Salmon on Quinault River, Wash., in Specified Years. 



Year 


Canneries 
operated. 


Chinook. 


Sockeye. 


Silverside. 




Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1911a 


1 
2 
1 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 


5,000 


$35,000 


2,031 

4,500 

492 

12,074 

22,972 

10,315 

4,608 

2,470 

1,144 


$16,000 
40, 500 
4,133 
120,740 
239,989 
92,835 
55,296 
30, 869 
18,304 


6,000 
3,916 
7,106 
1,623 
1,3S8 
1,093 
2,609 
6,086 
775 


$42,000 
18,014 
24, 160 
6,281 
6,807 
5,465 
21,289 
51, 731 
9,300 


1912 


1913 






1914 


51 
1,144 
1,365 

309 
1,497 

165 


255 
6,864 
8,190 
2,781 
13,473 
2,063 


1915 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 





Year. 



19110. 
1912.. 
1913.. 
1914.., 
1915... 
1916... 
1917... 
1918... 
1919... 



Canneries 
operated. 



Chum. 



Cases. 



5,400 
5,500 



1,048 
1,993 

466 
1,821 
1,682 

650 



Value. 



—) — 

$27,000 
13,200 



2,966 
5,580 
1,398 
11,836 
10, 874 
4,160 



Total. 



Cases. Value 



18,431 
13,916 
7,598 
14,796 
27, 497 
13, 239 
b 10, 553 
11,735 
2,734 



$120, 000 
71,714 
28, 293 
130, 242 
259,240 
107, 888 
98,438 
106,947 
33, 827 



aPrevious to this date the fish were transported to the Aberdeen and Hoquiam canneries and prepared 
there. 
b Includes 1,206 cases of humpbacks, valued at $7,236. 







PACIFIC 


SALMON FISHERIES. 






157 


Pack of ( 


"Banned 


Salmon 


ON Grays Harbor in Specified Years 






Can- 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Year. 


neries 
oper- 




































ated. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1878 


1 














5,420 


$29,268 


1879 


1 


















l.^S.'i ... 
















8,200 

18, 7(K) 

37, (XX) 

5(X) 

16, 5(X) 




issr. 


















INSS 

IS'.U 

lSi)2 


4 
1 
1 














212,750 






500 
9,(KX) 


$1,.5(H) 
30, 7.S() 






1,500 


4,5(X) 


$15,390 


3,000 


$9,415 


55,585 


IS'),! 


1 


4,500 


22,500 


12, (XX) 


48, (KX) 


5,500 


14, 850 


22,0(X) 


85,350 


1S<,I4 


1 


12,300 


61, 500 


4, l(X) 


16.41X1 


5, (XX) 


13,500 


21,400 


91,400 


is:i:i 


1 
2 


56 

7,816 


202 
36,806 


8, 876 
9, 278 


2S, 403 
29,(iS9 


2,517 
4,180 


6,922 
11,495 


11,449 
21,274 


35,527 


is'.ii; 


67,990 


IS'.lT 


1 


3,100 


11,741 


8,300 


23,481 


1,900 


5,000 


13,, 300 


40,222 


IVIS 


2 


5, 100 


2:5,0.52 


4,800 


16,320 


2,200 


6,050 


12,100 


45,422 


is*t 


1 


5,000 


21,250 


15,740 


59,025 


3,500 


8,7.50 


24, 240 


89,025 


I'.HH) 


2 


6,700 


33, 500 


12,900 


51,600 


11,2(X) 


30, ,800 


30, 800 


115,900 


I'KIl 
















41,500 
31,. 500 




]'.»02 


1 


4,000 


20, (MX) 


10, 000 


45,000 


17,. 500 


70,000 


13.5,000 


19IM 


2 


4, .339 


20, 163 


14,904 


51,8.54 


8,316 


21,022 


27,559 


93,0.39 


190.-, 


2 


2,050 


9,225 


13, 000 


52,000 


7,000 


18, 200 


22, 050 


79,425 


litDil 


2 


2, 500 


10, 000 


11,500 


43,9(X) 


8,000 


21,. 500 


22,0(X) 


75,4(X) 


li»(17 


1 


1,0(K) 


7,0(10 


9,500 


47,500 


3,500 


11,. 500 


14,000 


66,000 


11 HIS 


1 


1,000 


7,000 


9,500 


47,5(K) 


3,500 


11,500 


14,000 


66, WX) 


11109 


1 


5,721 


20,819 


9,019 


38, 146 


5,047 


11,608 


21,436 


79, 624 


1910 


3 


15,495 


90,718 


21,768 


108,840 


13,867 


48, 534 


b ,55, 480 


272,017 


1911 


4 


15,773 


110,411 


28,991 


202,937 


c 31, 177 


155,885 


75,941 


469, 233 


1912 


5 


9,060 


54, 360 


26, 162 


120,345 


12,065 


28, 956 


47,287 


203, (Mil 


1913 


4 


1,253 


8,771 


5,723 


19,458 


12, 919 


28, 163 


19,895 


56,392 


1914 


4 


11,899 


59,495 


9, 1,56 


35,434 


11,379 


32,203 


32, 434 


127, 1.32 


1915 


4 


4,219 


20,089 


14,036 


61,707 


22,737 


63,678 


40,992 


145,474 


1916 


5 


12,400 


74, 403 


11,580 


57,898 


32, 560 


117,744 


d 60, 336 


265, 229 


1917 


9 


12, 124 


109, 116 


9,589 


51,246 


10,910 


70,915 


« 42, 696 


291,715 


1918 


6 


8,731 


99,912 


21,994 


201,705 


5,247 


37,915 


35,972 


339,532 


1919 


6 


4,370 


54,626 


12, 214 


146,008 


28,712 


183,7.57 


45, 296 


384,991 



o Includes 1,649 eases, valued at $9,051, packed with sockeyes brought from Puget Sound. 

b Includes 4,350 case.s of "quinault," or sockeye, salmon, valued at $23,925. 

c Includes 6,730 cases of humpbacks. 

d Includes 3,796 cases of humpbacks, valued at $15,184. 

« Includes 10,073 cases of humpbacks, valued at $60,438. 



Pack of Canned Salmon on WillaVa Harbor in 


Specified Years. 


Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook or black. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1886 


















13,600 




1887 




4 
3 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 
2 
3 
3 
















ISS'^ 
















22, .500 
8,000 
14,500 
16, 195 
15,100 
22,600 
24,941 
29, 600 
21,420 
21,314 
26,300 
34,000 
39, 492 
5,890 
26,400 
14,950 
14,440 
13, 382 
20,457 
12,024 
11,508 
25,497 
28,148 
12,050 
16,837 
12, 842 
18,553 
8,379 
8,827 
13,204 


$129,375 


1891 






8,000 
9, (XX) 
7,895 
5, 600 
13,047 
11,940 
14, (UK) 
9, 809 
10,675 
12,400 


$24,000 
30,780 
31,580 
22,400 
41,150 
38,208 
44, 822 
33,351 
40,031 
49, 600 






24,000 


1892 


3,(X)0 
1,700 
2,700 
4,636 
4,551 
8,100 
6,865 
5,650 
6,700 


$10, 260 
9,180 
14,580 
23, 180 
22, 755 
33, 291 
26,510 
25, 425 
33,500 


2,500 
6,(500 
6,800 
4,917 
8,450 
6,900 
5,746 
4,989 
7,200 


$7,745 
18, 150 
18,700 
13, 222 
21,238 
18, 975 
15,802 
13,720 
19,800 


48,785 


1893 


58,910 


1,894 

189.0 

is9i; 

1S97 


55,(;80 
77, .552 
82, 201 

97,088 


1898 


75, 6(i3 


1899 


79, 176 


1900 


102, IXX) 


1901 




1902 

1903 

19(14 


2 
1 
2 
2 

I 
2 
1 

1 
2 
3 
2 
3 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 


5,836 
2,300 
3,000 
4,650 
4,000 
3,530 
4,017 
1,455 
2,923 
5,717 
6,123 
67 
2,924 
3,148 
5,115 
1,720 
921 
1,152 


29, 186 
13, 8(X) 
12, (XX) 
20, 925 
16,000 
15,354 
20,585 
5,869 
15,077 
40, 019 
36,738 
4<)9 
14,431 
19,380 
30,690 
18,920 
10,131 
13,824 


9,128 
2,390 
7,400 
4,300 
5,340 
9,238 
5,923 
4,822 
5,096 
9,298 
8,030 
3,111 
7,179 
4,008 
3, 365 
2,143 
5,249 
2,927 


41,076 
10,755 
28,440 
17,200 
21,360 
36, 082 
23,692 
17,359 
25,480 
65,086 
36,938 
10,577 
27,749 
18,437 
16,825 
19,287 
50,390 
35,124 


24,528 
1,200 

16,000 

6,0(K) 

5,100 

624 

10,517 
6,747 
3,489 

10, 482 
9,533 
8,872 
6,734 
5,686 

10,073 
4,516 
2,657 
9,125 


97,112 
3,300 
38,700 
15,000 
13,260 
2,496 
36,809 
13,163 
22,711 
52,410 
22, 879 
19, 368 
19,077 
15,921 
36,262 
30,708 
18,599 
58,400 


167,. 368 
27, 855 
79, 140 


1905 . 


53, 125 


1906 


50, 620 


1907 


54, 532 


1908 


81,086 


1909 


36,391 


1910 


63, 268 


1911 


157,515 


1912 


108, 156 


1913 


30,414 


1914 


61,256 


1915 


.53,738 


1916 


8:5,777 


1917 


68,915 


1918 


79, 120 


1919 


107,348 







a Includes 4,462 Cases of humpbacks, valued at $11,601. 



158 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Pack of Canned Salmon on the Columbia River from the Inception of thi 

Industry to 1919. 



Canner- 
ies oper- 
ated. 



1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 



Chinook. 



Cases. 



1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884., 
1885. . 
1886.. 
1887.. 
1888.. 
1889. . 
1890.. 
1891.. 
1892. . 
1893. . 
1894.. 
1895.. 
1896.. 
1897.. 



1899. 
1900. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



39 



28 
21 
21 
22 
24 
24 
24 
24 
24 
22 
23 
17 
16 
14 
16 
20 
19 
19 
19 
14 
15 
15 
15 
15 
15 
17 
19 
20 
20 
20 
21 



4,000 
18,000 
28,000 
100,000 
150,000 
200,000 
250,000 
250,000 
350,000 
375,000 
450,000 
380,000 
460,000 
480,000 
530,000 
550,000 
541,300 
629,400 
620,000 
553,800 
448,500 
356,000 
372, 477 
266, 697 
335, 604 
353,907 
344, 267 
288, 773 
351,106 
444,909 
370,943 
432, 753 
329,566 
255, 824 
262,392 
270, 580 
301, 762 
320,378 
327, 106 
311,334 
258, 433 
210,096 
162, 131 
244,285 
405, 862 
220,317 
192, 116 
289, 464 
406, 486 
395, 166 
403, 637 
400, 952 
392, 125 



Value. 



$64,000 
288,000 
392,000 
1,350,000 
1,800,000 
2,100,000 
2,325,000 
2,250,000 
2,625,000 
2,250,000 
2,475,000 
2,052,000 
2,300,000 
2,640,000 
2, 650, 000 
2,475,000 
2, 600, 000 
3,147,000 
2,915,000 
2, .500, 000 
2,135,000 
2,124,000 
2,327,981 
1, 600, 182 
1,946,087 
2,038,566 
1,996,388 
1,559,374 
1,895,976 
2,428,658 
1,840,511 
1,804,221 
1,490,394 
1,458,175 
1,821,258 
1,428,743 
1,610,614 
1,944,690 
1,%2,636 
1,868,007 



Blueback. 



Cases. 



Value 



Silverside. 



Cases. 



Value. 



1,203,546 
1,882,137 
2, 204, 185 
1,988,526 
1,664,670 
2,573,502 
3,694,361 
3,572,203 
5,023,529 
5,222,983 
5,031,207 



17, 797 
57,345 
15, 482 
66, 547 
30,459 
43,814 
18,015 
16,983 
12,972 
66,670 
23,969 
13, 162 
17,037 
8,383 
12,911 
7,768 
7,816 
5,504 
8,581 
27,908 
6,234 
5,988 
8,210 
11, 152 
35,311 
5,4.59 
3,790 
7,968 
37,833 
7,268 



$101,051 
290, 069 
284,242 
372,909 
152, 295 
224,430 
86,523 
81,518 
51,888 
300,015 
134, 723 
92,184 
86,465 
42, 867 
78, 048 
46,608 
54,712 



214, 561 

34. 287 
47,904 
85,384 
93, 677 

376,924 
56, 707 

27. 288 
111,552 
605,328 

73,116 



4,176 
29,107 
42, 758 
99,601 
44,108 
60,850 
65,431 
29,608 
44,925 
10, 532 
12,181 
31 ; 254 
26,826 
41,446 
31,757 
31,432 
42, 178 
68,922 
79,416 
31,842 
40,969 
69, 769 
33,336 
52, 084 
64,299 
98, 145 
90,728 



$20, 880 
116,428 
171,032 
329,683 
141,145 
197, 762 
222, 465 
112,055 
202,163 
44,732 
49, 869 
118,357 
114,011 
124,338 



185,070 
363, 688 
549, 478 
177,248 
175,412 
380, 666 
173, 234 
335, 114 
700,680 
1,072,843 
1,052,767 



• or these, 2,846 cases, valued at $23,203 were packed with sockeyes brought from Paget Sound. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



159 



Pack of Canned Salmon on the Columbia River from the Inception of the 
Industry to 1919 — Continued. 



Year. 



les oper- 
ated. 



Chum. 



Cases. 



Value. 



Steelhead trout. 



Cases. 



Value. 



Total. 



Cases. 



Value. 



1866. 
1867. 
1868. 
1869. 
1870. 
1871. 
1872. 
1873. 
1874. 
1875. 
1876. 
1877. 
1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



39 



2,311 
'22,493 



11,379 
17,696 



10,401 
10,000 
20,693 
25,751 
27,802 
22, 556 
16, 884 
24,542 
66,538 
53,471 
18,699 
13,303 
49, 285 
86, 530 
77, 766 
53, 659 
29,846 
75,493 



$6, 933 
62,591 



33,836 
63, 706 



41,604 
37,. 500 
52, r,9l 
65, 206 
69,505 



57,115 
232,883 
203, 19S 
46, 590 
29,486 
305,541 
251,632 
307,483 
386, 596 
215, 609 
441,989 



25,391 
42,825 
29,564 
72,348 
65, 226 
52, 422 
49, 678 
49,663 
46, 146 
26, 277 
11,994 
20,597 



$108,587 
171,300 
118,156 
288, 892 
260, 904 
209,688 
203,. 542 
198, 652 
165,440 
60,352 
39, 186 
102,985 



8,593 

7,251 

9, 868 

9,822 

6,500 

5,921 

10,726 

17,382 

5,436 

8,594 

6,958 

8,939 

10, 792 

26,723 

18,999 

23,783 

24,605 

14,414 



42, 965 
36, 255 
48, 892 
49,110 
32,500 



99, 796 
31,203 
47,399 
22, 108 
49, 142 
59, 356 
129,3.58 
118,987 
292, 583 
350,071 
144, 140 



4,000 
18,000 
28,000 
100,000 
150,000 
200,000 
250,000 
250,000 
350,000 
375,000 
450,000 
380,000 
460,000 
480,000 
5.30,000 
550,000 
.511,300 
629,400 
620,000 
5.53,800 
44S, 500 
3.56,000 
372, 477 
309,885 
435, 774 
398,953 
487,338 
415,876 
490, 100 
634,696 
481,697 
552, 721 
487,944 
3.32,774 
358, 772 
390,183 
317, 143 
339,577 
395, 104 
397,273 
394, 898 
324, 171 
277,719 

« 274, 196 
391,415 
553,331 
286,026 
266,479 
454,621 
558,534 

» 547, 861 
5.53,346 
591,381 
580,028 



$64 
288 
392 
1,350 
1,800 
2,100 
2,325 
2,250 
2,625 
2,250 
2,475 
2,052 
2,300 
2,640 
2,650: 
2,475 
2,600: 
3, 147: 
2,915 
2,500 
2,135 
2,124 
2,32 
1,809 
2,407 
2,440 
2,679 
2,095 
2,501 
3,110 
2,261 
2,219 
2,073 
1, 

2,282 
1,942 
1,644 
1,777 
2,242 
2,237 
2, 149: 
1,763 
1,380 
1,760 
2, .544 
3,0.52; 
2,319 
2,012 
3,695 
4,. 305 
4,361 
6,514 
7,466! 
6, 743 



,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,981 
,820 
,456 
,964 
,069 
,934 
,126 
,997 
,826 
,311 
,226 
,975 
,296 
,660 
,.509 
,105 
,678 
,.571 
,062 
,490 
,708 
,220 
,198 
, 164 
,8.56 
,387 
,989 
,292 
,299 
,940 
, 894 
,219 



a Includes 55 cases of hurni)backs, valued at 9132, packed with humpbacks brought from Puget Sound, 
b Includes 56 cases of humpbacks, valued at $224. 



160 V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Pack of Canned Salmon on the Columbia River, by States, 1916-1919. 



states and species. 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Washington: 

Bluebaek 


1,377 
179,083 
46, 012 
6 56 
26, 788 
14,348 


$12,389 

1, 074, 495 

165,643 

224 

133,940 

86,091 


2,801 

146, 140 

14, 539 


$33, 612 

1,753,680 

93, 050 


19, 450 

145,511 

12, 173 


$245, 070 

1,715,874 

85,211 


2,329 

a 130, 185 

39, 279 


$18,632 
1,671,007 


Chum . ... 


235, 674 


Humpback 

Silverside 

Steelhead 




15,989 
6,053 


183, 874 
66, 583 


35, 746 
8,699 


343, 162 

104, 388 


34,927 
7,148 


349,270 
71,480 


Total 


267, 664 


1,472,782 


185,522 


2, 130, 799 


221,579 


2, 493, 705 


213,868 


2,346,063 




Oregon: 

Bhiehack 


2,413 
216,083 
31,754 
25, 296 

4,651 


14, 899 

2, 497, 708 

141,840 

201, 174 

32, 896 


5,167 

257, 497 

39, 120 

48,310 

17, 730 


77,940 

3, 269, 849 

293, 546 

516, 806 

225,955 


18,383 
255, 441 
17,673 
62, 399 
15,906 


360,258 
3,507,109 
130, 458 
729,681 
245, 683 


4,939 
261,940 
36,214 
55, 801 

7,266 


54,484 
3,360,200 


Chum 


206,315 




703, 497 


Steelhead 


72,660 


Total 


280, 197 


2, 888, 517 


367, 824 


4,384,096 


369, 802 


4, 973, 189 


366, 160 


4,397,156 






Grand total 


647, 861 


4,361,299 


553,346 


6,514,895 


591,381 


7,466,894 


580,028 


6,743,219 



a Includes 106,328 cases spring chinooks, valued at $1,382,264; 21,740 cases fall chinooks, valued at $273,924; 
and 2,117 cases light-colored chinooks, valued at $14,819. 
b Fish brought in from Paget Sound. 

Pack of Canned Salmon on Nehalem Biver, Oreg., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Casas. 


Value. 


Casas. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1887 


1 














5,000 
6,000 
9,000 
3,500 

10,000 
6,723 
6,493 
6,904 
8,046 

11,750 
9,508 

10,077 


$30, 000 
32, 000 


1889 








! 




1890 










1 1 


45, 500 


1891 


2 
2 
1 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 








1 


14,000 


1892 






10,000 
5,031 
4,866 
5, 1.52 
5,218 
8,366 
5,700 
7,405 


$40,000 
20, 124 


1 


40, 000 


1893 

1894 

1895 


1,692 
1,627 
1,752 
2,828 
3,384 
3,808 
. 1,384 


$6, 768 
6,508 
7,008 
8,484 

10,152 
9,891 
5,536 


1 


26, 892 
25,972 
23, 494 


19, 464 
16, 486 
15, 6.54 
25,098 
19,380 
26, 658 




1 


i 


24,138 


1897 

1898 

1899 

1900 






35, 250 
29,271 
36, 058 






1,288 



$3, 864 


1901 

1902 

1903 

1904 

190^ 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 


268 

271 

686 

500 

2,700 

3,987 

4,000 

5,000 

1,985 

3,500 

5,821 


1,139 
1,431 
3,670 
2,. 500 
16,200 
23,922 
28, 000 
35,000 
10.542 
24, 500 
46,568 


3,273 
3,169 

4,615 
5,000 
2,900 
4,976 
6,600 
6,100 
4,554 
5,400 
14,878 
13,331 
764 
, 11, 800 
5,400 
3,474 
851 
9,200 
8,124 


13,092 
13, 468 
19,614 
20, 000 
12, 325 
14,928 
19, 800 
18, 300 
20, 253 
29, 700 
81,829 
73,321 

3,056 
63, 720 
24,840 
17,370 

6,808 
88,320 
97,488 


2, 669 
2,570 


7,206 
10, 280 


6,210 

6,010 

5,301 

11,, 500 

11,600 

11,020 

12,600 

13,116 

7,448 

10, 400 

24, 138 

14,902 

1,069 

18,309 

8,060 

7,007 

2,106 

11,404 

9,807 


21,4:37 
25, 179 
22,284 


6,000 

6,000 

2,0,57 

2,000 

2,016 

909 

1,.500 

3,439 

1,571 

5 

1,668 

2,260 

833 

472 

519 

1,183 


12, 000 
15,000 
5,143 
6,000 
6,048 
2,091 
4,500 
13, 048 
3,927 
11 
4,150 
6,328 
2,499 
3, .304 
3, 633 
7,571 


34,, 500 
43, 525 
42,993 
53,800 
59, 348 
32, 886 
58, 700 
141.445 
77, 248 


1913 

1914 

1S15 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 


300 
4,841 

400 
2,700 

783 
1,685 

500 


1,500 
33, &87 

2,400 
21,656 

7,047 
18,535 

6,250 


4,. 567 
101,777 
33, ,518 
41, .525 
17. 159 
110,488 
111,309 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 161 

Pack ov Canned Salmon on Tillamook Bay, Oreg., in Specified Years. 



>'car. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Case.s. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1884 
















4,500 
9,800 
37, 000 
21,000 
14,633 
9, 500 
14,009 




1885 


















1886 


2 
2 
2 
















1R87 














$115,-500 
84 140 


1888 














1889 














52,250 
79, 049 


1890 --.. 














1891 


1 

2 
2 
1 
2 
3 
3 
3 
1 
2 














1892 






18,000 
4,000 
7, 763 
6, 514 
4, 860 
9,000 

10,342 
3,889 


$72,000 
16, 000 
31,052 
20, 845 
14, 580 
27,000 
35, 162 
14,036 






18,000 
11,416 

9,163 
13. .515 

7,060 
11,000 
15,342 
11,190 


72,000 
35,285 
35,602 
40,098 
21,180 


1893 

1894 

1895 


497 
700 


$1,988 
2,800 


6,919 

700 

7,001 


$17, 297 
1,750 
19,253 


1896 


2,200 
2,000 
5,000 
2,180 


6,600 
6,000 
13, 000 
8,720 


1897 






33, 000 


1898 






48, 162 


1899 

1900 


5,121 


15,363 


38,119 


1901 

1902 

1903 


848 
215 


4,240 
1,135 


2,133 
2,287 
2,727 
4,400 
1,700 
2,364 
3,410 
6,000 
5,029 
4,500 
12, 663 
6,418 
1,000 
4,131 
4,549 
4,333 
5, .522 
3,461 
7,150 


9,598 
9,720 
11,590 
17, 600 
7, 650 
7,092 
10,230 
21,000 
21,809 
24, 750 
69, 647 
32,090 
4,000 
22,307 
20, 925 
21,665 
44,176 
33, 226 
85,800 


3,661 
4,093 
2,620 
6,500 
8, 800 
1,270 
2,314 
4,000 
3,712 
2,000 
6,277 
4,550 
1,000 
6,707 
9,099 
7,530 
6,941 
1,567 
4,350 


10,728 

16,372 

10, 480 

13,000 

22,000 

3,175 

6,942 

12, 000 

8,538 

6,000 

20,053 

11,375 

2,200 

16, 867 

25,477 

22, 590 

4S, 587 

10, 969 

27,840 


6,882 
6,595 
5,347 
10,900 
11,600 
5,504 
7,724 
12, 300 
11,356 
9,400 
26, 373 
14, 779 
4,600 
15, 572 
19, 323 
21,328 
21,285 
5,135 
13,000 


24,566 
27, 227 
22 070 


1904 






30, 600 
36, 250 
21.487 
31,172 
49, 100 
46,010 
51,050 

157, 164 
70, 142 
21,800 
72,312 
70, 702 

119,975 

172, 161 
45. 372 

132,390 


1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917.. 

1918 

1919 


1,100 
1,870 
2,000 
2,300 
2,615 
2,900 
8,433 
3,811 
2,600 
4,734 
5,675 
9,465 
8,822 

107 

1,£00 


6,600 
11,220 
14,000 
16,100 
15, 663 
20, 300 
67,464 
26, 677 
15,600 
33, 138 
34,300 
75, 720 
79, 398 

1.177 
18,750 



Pack of Canned Salmon on Nestugga River, Oreg., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1887 
















4,300 
5,000 
6,700 


$23,650 
28, 750 


1888 














1889 














36,850 


1891 


i 
















1899 

1900 


1,109 


$4, 436 


3,034 


$10,922 


513 


$1,539 


4,656 


16,897 


1901 

1«05 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 


279 
3,000 
2,622 
2,100 
2,000 
2,000 
3,562 
3,090 

126 
3, 542 

200 
2,400 
2,000 
3,000 
1,900 


1,116 
IS, 000 
15, 732 
14,700 
14,000 
14,000 
28, 496 
18,540 
756 
24, 794 

1,300 
19,200 
18, 000 
33,000 
23, 750 


3, .553 
1,000. 
2,468 
3,. 540 
3,000 
3,300 
7,124 
6,180 
243 
5, 730 
3,930 
4, 056 
3,800 
3,206 
2,400 


13,323 
4,2.50 
7,404 
10,620 
10, 500 
18,150 
39,182 
30, 900 
972 
30,942 
18, 078 
20, 2S0 
30,400 
30,778 
28,800 


396 
400 
165 
150 
100 
140 
641 
70S 


1,089 

1,000 

413 

450 

300 

420 

2,436 

1,770 


4,228 
4,400 
5,2.55 
5,790 
5,100 
5,440 
11,327 
9,978 
369 
9, .537 
4,930 
6,6.56 
6,060 
6,421 
4,750 


1.5, .528 
23,2,50 
23,. 549 
25, 770 
24, 800 
32, .570 
70,114 
51,210 
1 728 


1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 


26.5 
800 
200 
260 
215 
450 


662 
2,240 

600 
1,820 
1,.505 
2,880 


.56, .308 
21,618 
40, SOO 
50,220 
65,283 
55,430 



11312°— 21- 



-11 



162 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Pack op Canned Salmon on Siletz River, Oreq., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1896 


2 
2 


2,500 
3,510 
3,200 
2,200 


87,500 
10,530 
8,360 
9,900 


1,900 
5, 015 
4,330 
2,319 


$5,700 
15, 045 
14, 722 
8,696 






4,400 
8,525 
7,530 
4,719 


$13,200 

25, 575 


1897 






1898 






23,082 
19, 146 


1899 

1900 


200 


$550 


1901 

1902 

1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

1915 

1916 

1917 

1918 

1919 


876 
600 
1,000 
1,500 
2,635 
2,333 
2,100 
2,200 
3,584 
3,277 
15 
3,356 
100 
1,000 
1,800 
4,304 
1,393 


4,380 

3, 16S 

5,000 

9,000 

15,810 

16,331 

14,700 

15,400 

28,672 

19,662 

75 

23,492 

600 

8,000 

16,200 

47,344 

17,413 


3, 740 
1,917 
3,300 
1,700 
3,192 
4,300 
4,700 
4, 600 
7,164 
6,554 
354 
6,712 
3,000 
3,000 
3,400 
7, 7S9 
5,892 


16,830 

8,147 

13,200 

7,225 

9,576 

12,900 

16,450 

25, 300 

39, 402 

32, 770 

1,416 

36,245 

13,800 

15,000 

28,200 

74,774 

70,704 


360 
500 
1,000 
900 
167 
200 
300 
250 
237 
283 
17 
196 
100 
210 
222 
384 
472 


1,260 

2,000 

2,000 

2,250 

418 

600 

900 

750 

901 

707 

37 

490 

280 

630 

1,554 

2,688 

3,021 


4,976 
3,017 
5,300 

*4,100 
5,994 
6,833 
7,100 
7,050 

10,985 

10,114 
386 

10,264 
3,200 
4,210 
5,422 

12,477 
7,757 


22, 470 
13,315 
20,200 
18,475 
25,804 
29,831 
32,050 
41,450 
68,975 
53,139 
1,528 
60,227 
14,680 
23,630 
45,954 
124,806 
91, 138 



Pack of Canned Salmon on Yaquina Bay and River, Oreg., in Specified Years. o 



Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1887 


2 
3 


















1888 














5, 088 
5,000 


$29, 256 


1889 














27, 500 


1891 


J 

















1896 


1,714 
170 
316 


$5, 142 

442 

1,422 


615 
1, 530 
3,234 


$1,845 
5,202 
12,127 






2,329 
1,700 
4,850 


6,987 
5,644 


1898 






1899 

1900 


1,300 


$3,575 


17,124 


1901 

1903 


96 


480 


2,848 
1,238 
2,600 
2,050 
3,100 
1,000 
4,000 
1,139 
2,669 
1,009 


12,816 
5,262 
8,840 
8,613 
9,300 
3,000 

14, 000 
4,5.56 

13,345 
5,549 


549 
315 
450 
62 
60 
49 


1,647 
787 

1, 080 
155 
150 
147 


3,493 
1,553 
3,100 
2,312 
3,660 
1,883 
4,000 
1,172 
2,669 
1,060 


14, 943 
6,049 


1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 


50 
200 
500 
834 


200 
1,200 
3,000 
5,838 


10, 120 
9,968 

12, 450 
8,985 

14,000 


1909 






33 


76 


4,632 


1910 






13,345 


1911 






51 


289 


5,838 









a Cannery not operated from 1912 to 1916, both years inclusive, 
port cannery owned by same party. 



In 1917 it was consolidated with Wald- 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



163 



kCK OF Canned Salmon on Alrea River and Bay, Oreg., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Sllverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Vahic. 


Ca.«es. 


Value. 


J6 

^7 

i8 

59 


1 
2 
3 






























ii.iso 

9,620 
10,000 


S64,285 
55,315 
55,000 


























)1 

)2 

)3 

H 

)5 

)6 

)7 

)8 

)9 

)0 

)1 

12 

e... . 

14 

)5... 

16 

17... , 
18 



2 

3... 
4 

6 

7... . 
8 


1 

2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 


















3,600 
3,240 
4,160 
3,280 
3,400 
3,200 
2,170 
5,010 


$14,400 
12,960 
16,640 

11,808 

10,200 

9.600 

7,378 

19,038 






3,600 
4,500 
4,600 
4,980 
6,900 
5,000 
6,466 
7,100 


14,400 
19,260 


1,260 
440 
1,700 
3,500 
1,800 
4,296 
2,150 


$6,300 
2,200 
6,375 

10,600 
5,400 

11,170 
9,138 










18,840 






18,183 






20, 700 






15,000 
18, .54 8 











28,176 








695 
701 
1,031 
1,000 
2,500 
3,702 
800 
1,200 
1,119 
2,500 
4,161 
3,731 
1,607 
4,546 
1,668 
2,624 
2,727 
2,000 
2,512 


3,475 

3,702 

5,516 

5,000 

15,000 

22, 212 

5,600 

8,400 

6,714 

17,500 

33, 288 

22,386 

8,035 

31,822 

10,763 

20, 992 

24,543 

22,000 

31,400 


4,629 
4,530 
4,242 
6, ,500 
1, 800 
3,843 
5,100 
6,000 
5,486 
5,900 
9,329 
8,286 
4,304 
6,728 
6,966 
3,864 
6,621 
7,215 
2,607 


18,7,90 
19,253 
18,029 
26,000 
7,650 
11,529 
15,300 
21,000 
24,027 
31,950 
51,309 
41,430 
17,216 
36,331 
32,044 
19,320 
52,968 
69,264 
31,200 


891 
670 
44 
300 
700 


S3, lis 

2,680 

88 

600 

1,750 


6,215 
5,901 
5,317 
7, sno 

5,000 

7, .545 
6,2.50 
7,600 
6,6S5 

8, .500 
14,178 
12,541 

6,071 
11,347 
8,812 
6,780 
9,766 
10,068 
5,6.54 


25,383 
25,635 
23, 633 
31,600 
24,400 
33, 741 


350 
400 

80 
100 
688 
524 
160 

73 
178 
292 
418 
312 
535 


1,050 

1,200 

184 

300 

2,614 

1,310 

352 

183 

498 

876 

2,926 

2,178 

3,718 


21,950 
30, 600 
30,925 
49, 750 
87,211 
65,126 
25,603 
68,336 
43,. 305 
41,1SS 
80,437 
99, 934 
66,318 



o Includes -541 cases of blueback.s, valued at $6,492. 

'ACK OF Canned Salmon on the Siuslaw River, Oreg., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Sllverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


,8 

9 

& 

.8 

.9 

1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 



1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 



1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

7 

8 

9 


2 
2 
1 
3 
1 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 

2 
2 
2 
2 
a 1 














10,300 


.?55, 620 










1 












1,500 
11,960 
12, 000 















68, 770 














66,000 


















18,000 
11,830 
14,987 
10,465 
9,000 
3,900 
10,000 
7,323 


S72, 000 
47,320 
59,948 
35,274 
27,000 
11,700 
34,000 
26,363 






18,000 
13,301 
16, 8f8 
12,102 
11,700 

5,000 
10, 850 

8,600 


72, 000 


i,47i 

1,871 
1,637 
2,700 
1,100 
850 
1,162 


$7,3.55 
9,355 
6,139 
8,100 
3,300 
2,210 
4,648 






54,675 






69 303 






41,413 






35,100 






15 000 






36,210 


115 


$345 


31,356 


1,735 

1,288 

1..519 

'500 


8,675 
6,800 
8,127 
2,500 


7,488 
4,320 
6,842 
6,500 


29,952 
18, 260 
29,079 
26,000 






9, 223 
5,608 
8,301 
7,000 


38,627 
25 060 










37,206 






28 500 








4,500 


27,000 


15,000 

15,773 

8,600 

7,436 

12, 800 

10,266 

6,108 

4,281 

9,266 

1,7.55 

3,021 

350 

3,000 

3,760 


45,000 
47,319 
30,100 
32,956 
70,400 
56,463 
30,540 
17,124 
50,036 

8,073 
15, 105 

2,800 
28, 800 
43,120 


1,,500 


3,750 


21,000 

15,773 

8,600 

8,068 

22,1.5S 

16, 3S0 

6, lOS 

4,2S1 

9,266 

1,7.55 

3, 890 

350 

3,000 

3,760 


75,750 
47,319 










30, 100 


6.32 

856 

1,120 


3,792 
5,992 
8,960 






.36, 748 


8,502 
5,000 


25,506 
19,000 


101,898 
84,423 
30, 540 










17,124 










50,036 










8,073 


875 


7,(X)0 






22, 105 






2, sai 










28, 800 










43, 120 













a The two canneriee combined and operated one plant. 



164 U. S, BUREAU or FISHERIES. 

Pack of Canned Salmon on the Umpqua River, Oreg., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1878 


2 
2 
2 














8,100 


$43.7 


1879. .. 














1884 














3,700 
10,500 
18,600 
4,000 
9,000 
12,000 




1885 
















1886 
















1887 














22 


1888. 














51 7 


1889 














66,0 


1891 














1892 






10,000 
3,204 
6,875 
7,697 
8,000 
7,576 


$40,000 
12,816 
27,500 
28, 863 
24,000 
27,006 






10,000 
4,013 
7,110 
8, 689 
9,300 
8,616 


40,0 
16,8 
28,6 
32,5 
27,9 
31,2 


1893 


809 
235 
992 
1,300 
925 


$4,045 
1,175 
3,720 
3,900 
3,860 






1894 






1895 






1896. ... 






1899 

1900 


115 


$345 


1903 


23 

500 

6,100 

1,143 

500 

2,000 

300 

30 

1,000 


123 
2,500 
36,600 
6,858 
3,000 
14,000 
2,400 
210 
8,000 


6,733 
9,500 

10,500 
5,613 
7,753 

11,000 
6,118 
3,759 
2,000 
5,100 
2,900 
5,366 
3,409 
7.500 


28,615 
38,000 
44,625 
16,839 
31,012 
60,500 
33,649 
18,795 
10,000 
23,460 
14,500 
42, 928 
32, 726 
90,000 






6,756 
10,500 
16,600 
6,756 
8,253 
13,000 
6,418 
3,789 
3,000 
5,100 
2,900 
5,413 
5,113 
7,500 


28,7 
41,5 
81,2 
23,6 
34,0 
74,5 
36,0 
19,0 
18,0 
23,4 
14,5 
43,2 
51,4 
90,0 


1904 

1906 


500 


1,000 


1906 . 






1909 






1910 






1911 






1912 






1914 






1915 






1916 










1917 






47 
1 


329 

7 


1918 

1919 


1,703 


18, 733 













o No canning done in 1913. 
Pack op Canned Salmon on Coos Bay and River, Oreg., in Specified Years 



Year. 



Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 



Chinook. 



Cases. 



Value. 



Silverside. 



Cases. 



Value. 



Total. 



Cases. 



Value, 



1887 
1888, 
1889 
1891 
1893 
1894 
1895 
1896 
1897 
1898 
1898 
1900 
1901 
1902 
1904 
1906 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 
1914 
1915 
1916 
1917 
1918 



11,300 

5,500 
7,000 



$62,1 
31,6 
38,5 



163 
5,110 
13,000 
6,200 
3,142 
1,273 



$815 

19, 163 

39,000 

18, 600 

8,169 

5,092 



3,125 
8,428 
2,332 
2,000 
2,200 
7,180 
5,174 



$12,500 
33, 712 
8,934 
6,000 
6,600 
24,412 
18,626 



3,125 
8,591 
7,442 

15,000 
8,400 

10,322 
6,447 



12, S 
34,5 
28,0 
45,0 
25,2 
32,5 
23,7 



1,215 

412 

2,033 

2,043 

275 

500 

2,630 

1,457 



6,075 
2,175 
7,725 
12, 258 
1,475 
3,500 
21,040 
10, 199 



4,082 
2,640 
7,200 
1,755 
3, 959 
5,500 
7,260 
3,9S9 
7, 383 
9,300 
3,500 
2,485 



16, 328 
11, 220 
24, 4S0 
5,265 
17,927 
30, 250 
39, 930 
19, 945 
29, 532 
50,220 
16.100 
12, 425 



5,297 
3,052 
9,233 
3,798 
4,234 
6,000 
9,890 
5,446 
7,383 
9,300 
3,500 
2,485 



22,4 
13,3 
32,2 
17,5 
19,4 
33,1 
60,9 
30,1 
29, f 
50,^ 
16,: 
12, ^ 



3,800 



36,480 



3,800 



36,^ 



PACIFIC SALMON FKHERIES. 165 

Pack of Canned Salmon on Coquille River, Oreo., in Specified Years. 



1 

Year. 


Canneries 
operated. 


Chinook 


Silverside. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 




1 
1 
1 
2 
3 
2 










7,000 
7,300 
3,800 
8,300 




















































888 










11,000 
8,600 


$63,250 












17,300 




1 
1 
1 
al 
2 
2 
2 
2 
1 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 
2 












892 






5,000 

6,. 500 

2,000 

8,724 

7,800 

7,485 

7,550 

9,601 

5,096 

5,877 

8, 685 

13, 686 

11,343 

17,979 

13,220 

19,174 

9,818 

16,637 

16,676 

8,040 

8,910 

12,097 

5,131 

2,652 

8,005 

10,096 

5,010 


$20, 000 
26,000 
8,000 
32,615 
23,400 
25,499 
28,500 
38, 404 
20, 384 
24,927 
36, 911 
54,744 
48,208 
53, 937 
39, 660 
67, 109 
42,687 
91,. 504 
91,718 
30,200 
35, 640 
65.324 
25,515 
13, 260 
64,040 
96,922 
60, 120 


5,000 

6,500 

2,000 

9,484 

9,025 

8,026 

8,500 

12,237 

5, 229 

6,163 

9,016 

14,286 

13,443 

18,800 

13,526 

19,174 

10,068 

17,057 

17,391 

6,417 

8,910 

12,097 

6,210 

3,521 

b 8, 706 

cll,G.'-)0 

d6,0S2 


20,000 


893 






26,000 


894 






8,000 


895 


760 

1,225 

541 

950 

2,636 

133 

286 

331 

600 

2,100 

821 

306 


$2,887 
3,675 
1,407 
3,800 

13,180 

665 

1,510 

1,771 

2,400 

12,600 
4,926 
2,142 


35,502 


896 


27,075 


g9,S 


26,906 


899 


32, 300 


900 


51,584 


901 


21,049 


902. 


26, 437 


9as 


38,682 


904 


57,144 


906 


60,808 
58, 863 


907 


41,802 




67, 109 




250 
420 
715 
377 


i,255 
2,940 
5, 720 
2,639 


43,942 


910. 


94,444 


911 


97, 438 


012 


32,839 


1913 


35,640 








65,324 




1,079 

869 

694 

1,318 

1,027 


6,474 
6, 952 

6,216 
14,498 
12, 837 


31,989 


916 


20,212 




70,335 


918 


113,129 




72, 957 







a Burned. 

6 Includes 7 cases of chums, valued at $49. , , ,i. , , ^ ^ .,n/^ 

c Includes 217 cases of chums, valued at $1,519, and 19 cases of steelheads, valued at $190. 
d Includes 45 cases of chums. 

Pack op Canned Salmon on Rogue River, Oreg., in Specified Years.o 





Canneries 
operated. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Total. 


Year. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 




61 










7,804 
8,534 
8,571 
7,772 
12,320 
19, 186 
16,156 
12,376 
9,310 
12,147 
17,216 
21,062 
22,000 
24,000 
21,000 
19,(M)0 
3,200 
14,762 
18,000 
19, 008 
13,465 
7,226 






































































































































$121,107 












132,000 












120,000 












105,000 


1842 


10,000 
3, 200 
10,377 
15,000 
15,355 
12, 964 
5,481 


$59, 000 
16,000 
41,. 508 
75, 000 
61,420 
51, 550 
30,145 


9,000 


$36,000 


95,000 




16,000 


18>35 


4,385 
3,000 
3,653 
501 
1,745 


15,347 
9,000 

10,9.59 
1,303 
6, 980 


56,855 


1896 


84,000 


1897 


72,379 


1898 


52,853 


IS<)9 


37,125 


1900 





a .'^hut down in 1911 and 1912 through the closing of the river to all fishing. 
b Burned down during season. Not opened the next year. 



166 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Pack of Canned Salmon on Rogue River, Oreo., in Specified Years— Contd. 



Year. 



1901 
1902 
1903 
1904 
1905 
1906 
1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1913, 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Canneries 
operated. 



Chinook. 



Silverside. 



Value. 



$13, 405 

20, 058 

45, 036 

64,000 

111,000 

72,000 

56, 528 

32, 655 

1,300 

1,786 

27,160 

62, 060 

135, 301 

181,120 

271,777 

225, 159 

215, 463 



Cases. 



4,184 

4,091 

4,792 

3,255 

1,500 

6,000 

1,796 

2, 650 

699 

2,711 

2,403 

987 

515 

501 

660 

2,704 

671 



Value. 



$17, 736 
17,387 
20,366 
11,392 
6,375 
18,000 
8,980 
13,250 
2,977 
16, 266 
11,857 
5,453 
2,369 
2,505 
5,280 
24, 336 
8,052 



Total. 



Cases. 



6,865 

7,890 

13,210 

19, 255 

20,000 

18,000 

9,333 

7,004 

885 

2,943 

5,423 

7,925 

19,609 

23, 141 

25, 367 

23, 173 

17,908 



Value. 



$31,141 

37, 445 

65,402 

75,392 

117,375 

90,000 

65,508 

45,905 

4,277 

18,052 

39,017 

67,513 

137,670 

1&3, 625 

277,057 

249,495 

223, 515 : 



Pack op Canned Salmon on Smith River, Calif., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Canneries 
operated. 


Qulnnat. 


Silverside. Total. 




Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1878 




4,277 
7,500 
5,500 
1,550 
2,347 
1,500 
1,500 
2,250 


$23, 096 
41, 250 
33,000 
9,300 
14, 082 
7,500 
7,500 
9,990 






4,277 
7, .500 
5,500 
1,550 
2,347 
2,000 
2,000 
2,250 
3,000 
3,033 
2,505 
6,300 
4,653 
4,366 


$23,096 
41,250 
33,000 
9,300 


1884 .'.".'.".".".".'."! 






1888 






1893 


500 
500 


"'$i,'56o" 

1,500 




1894 


9,000 


1895 


9,000 


1914 


3,000 

1,078 

990 


""'is,' 666" 

6,220 
4,950 


9,990 


1915 


1,955 
1,515 
6,300 
4,041 
4,366 


13,685 
12, 120 
69,300 
44, 451 
56,758 


18,000 


1916 


19,905 


1917 


17,070 


1918 


612 


5,508 


69, 300 


1919 


49, 959 








56, 758 



Pack of Canned Salmon on Klamath River, Calif., in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Canneries 
operated. 


Qulnnat. 


Silverside. 


Total. 




Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1888 




4,400 
1,047 
1,600 
1,700 
1,200 
1,600 
2,500 
3,400 
5,633 
8,016 
7,400 

18,000 
6,370 
7,500 

10, 400 
6,484 


$26, 400 

4,188 

6,400 

6,800 

5,321 

8,800 

13,500 

20,800 

33,000 

52, 000 

46, 000 

117,000 

40, 500 

48, 500 

72, 800 

51, 872 

56, 430 

61, 105 

81,783 






4,400 
1,047 
1,600 
1,700 
1,600 
1,600 
2,500 
3,400 
5,633 
8,016 
7,604 

18,000 
6,376 

11,000 

12,900 

8,884 

8, 030 

10,200 

6 7,731 


$26,400 


1892 






1894 






6,400 


1895 


400 


$1,500 


6,800 


1899 


6,821 


1902 








1904 






13,500 
20,800 


1909 






1910 






33, 000 


1911 


204 


816 




1912 


48, 816 


1913 






117,000 


1914 


3,500 
2,500 
2,400 
2,900 
4,292 
1,145 


14,000 
13, 000 
12,000 
23,200 
38, 628 
13,740 




1915 


62,500 


1916 


85,800 


1917 


63, 872 


1918 


1 5, 555 


79, 630 


1919 


102, 557 








95, 523 



n Includes 353 cases of steelheads, valued at $2,S24. 



<> Includes 295 cases of steelheads. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 167 

Pack of Canned Salmon on Eel River, Cahp., in Specipibd Years.o 



Year. 


Canneries 
operated. 


Qulnnat. 


Year. 


Canneries 
operated. 


Quinnat. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1877 




8,500 
10, 500 

6,250 
15,000 

8,200 


$51,000 

56, 700 


1885 




5,750 
12, 500 
6,000 
8,400 
11,000 




1878 


1886 . .. 


«75,00O 
42,000 
52 500 


1880 


1910 


1883 




1911 


1884 




1912 


71^500 









a Shut down since 1912. 
Pack of Canned Salmon on Novo River, Calif., in Specified Years. 



Year. 



Can- 
neries 
operated. 



Quinnat. 



Cases. 



Value. 



1918. 
1919. 



2,000 
7,500 



$22,000 
97,500 



Pack of Canned Salmon on the Sacramento River in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Canneries 


Quinnat. 


Year. 


Canneries 
operated. 


Quinnat. 


operated. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value, 


1864 


1 
1 


2,000 

2, 000 

2,500 

3,000 

10,000 

21,. 500 

34,017 

13, 8.55 

62,000 

181,200 

200, 000 

123,000 

81,450 

90,000 

39, 300 

36,500 

68,075 

57,300 

25, 065 

10,353 

2,281 




1893 


3 
2 
3 


23,336 

28,403 

25, 185 

13,387 

38,543 

29,731 

32, 580 

39, 304 

17, 500 

14,043 

8,200 

14,407 

2,780 

4,142 

950 

17,315 

5,229 

6,636 

9,443 

4,036 

1,169 




1865 




1894 




1874 




1895 . 


$111,821 


1875 






1896 


1876 


2 




1897 






1877 




1898 






1878 


6 
4 
9 

20 
19 
21 


$1.83,692 
59, 577 


1899 




150 688 


1879 


1900 






1880 


1901 






1881 




1902 






1882 




1903 






18&3 




1904 


2 
1 
1 
1 
2 
2 
1 
3 
2 
2 


66, 936 


1884 




1905 


188.5 


6 
9 




1911 


28 994 


1S86 




1913 


6,650 
95, 232 
35 453 


1887 




1914 


1888 


6 
3 


423, 750 


1915 


1889 


1916 


53 088 


1890 




1917 


94,430 
44,396 
15 197 


1891 






1918 


1892 






1919 













Pack of Canned Salmon at Monterey Bay in Specified Years. 



Year. 



1915 
1916 
1917 



Canneries 
operated. 



Quirmat. 



Cases. 



950 
12,809 
2,000 



Value. 



$7,300 
102, 472 
20,000 



Year. 



1918. 
1919. 



Canneries 
operated. 



Quinnat. 



Cases. 



2,000 



Value. 



$26,000 



168 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Pack of Canned Salmon in Alaska, by Districts, since thb Inception op the 

Industry. 



Year. 



1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881. 
1882. 
1883. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Southeast Alaska. 



Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 



Total. 



Pack. 



Cases. 
,159 
,530 
,539 
,977 
,501 
,040 
,189 
,728 
,660 
,462 
,128 
,760 
,901 
,615 
722 
,053 



11 

'2o: 

22 
16! 

is; 

31 

81 
141 
142 
156! 
11.5 
136 
142 
14S 
262 
271 
251 
310 
456 
735 
906 
642 
569 
433 
767; 
887; 
022 
852' 
066' 
580 
,033 
782' 
776 
549 
, 214 
,294 
375 
108 



32,373,930 



Central Alaska. 



Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 



Pack- 



17,320,059 



Western Alaska. 



Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 



Pack. 



a 400 

14,000 

48, 822 

72,700 

89, 886 

115,985 

118,390 

133, 418 

63,499 

107,786 

108,844 

150, 135 

218,336 

254,312 

318, 703 

411,832 

599,277 

719,213 

1,046,458 

1, 186, 730 

885,268 

1,089,154 

978, 735 

759, 534 

1, 169, 604 

1,151,553 

914, 138 

743, 206 

1,395,931 

1,509,038 

1,621,787 

1,318,233 

1,610,434 

1,635,235 

1,838,439 

708,280 



25,107,295 



Total. 



Can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 



10 
16 
37 
35 
30 
15 
22 
21 
23 
29 
29 
30 
32 
42 
56 
64 
60 
55 
47 
47 
48 
50 
45 
52 
64 
87 
79 
81 
87 
100 
118 
135 
133 



Pack. 



Cases. 

8,159 

12,530 

6,539 

8,977 

21,745 

48,337 

64,886 

83,415 

142,065 

206, 677 

412, 115 

719, 196 

682, 591 

801,400 

474, 717 

643,654 

686,440 

626,530 

966, 707 

909, 078 

965,097 

1,078,146 

1,548,139 

2,016,804 

2,536,824 

2,246,210 

1,953,756 

1,894,516 

2,219,044 

2, 169, 873 

2,618,048 

2,395,477 

2,413,054 

2,823,817 

4,054,641 

3, 739, 185 

4,056,653 

4,500,293 

4,900,627 

5,947,286 

6,605,835 

4,592,201 



74,801.284 



a Experimental pack. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 169 

Pack op Canned Salmon in Alaska from 1898 to 1919, bt Species. 



Year. 


Coho, or silver. 


Chum, or keta. 


Humpback, or pink. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1898 


54, 711 

39,402 

50, 984 

65, 509 

82, 723 

120,506 

85, 741 

67,394 

109, 141 

85, 190 

68,932 

56, 556 

114,026 

133, 908 

166, 198 

75, 779 

157,063 

124,268 

261,909 

193,231 

218, 958 

230, 138 




.5,184 

1,931 

30,012 

47, 464 

159, 849 

35,052 

21, 178 

41,972 

254,812 

184, 173 

218, 513 

120, 712 

254,218 

323, 795 

664, 633 

290,918 

663, 859 

479,946 

724, 115 

906, 747 

1,364,960 

1,348,462 




109,399 

149, 159 

232,022 

541,427 

549, 602 

355, 799 

299,333 

168, 597 

348,297 

561,973 

644, 133 

464, 873 

554,322 

1,005,278 

1,2S0,138 

1,372,881 

986,049 

1,875,516 

1,737,793 

2,296,976 

2,438,954 

1, 657, 434 




1899 








1900 








1901 








1902 








1903 








1904 








1905 


$215,875 

382,109 

337, 384 

274, 089 

231,029 

559, 666 

762, 647 

741,377 

261,654 

690, 086 

536, 124 

1,399,491 

1, 6S2, 745 

2,004,979 

2,761,656 


$113,056 

730,235 

547, 757 

554,197 

274,110 

773, 409 

1,199,563 

1,584,130 

643,948 

2, 240, 765 

1, 243, 321 

2,420,600 

5,-572,047 

8,562,872 

8,630,157 


$498 194 


1906 


1 046 951 


1907 


l' 799; 280 
1 733 379 


1908 


1909 


1' 114' 839 


1910 


1 764' 055 


1911 


3,' 972^706 
3 296 598 


1912 


1913 


3' 550' 587 


1914 


3 459 116 


1915 


5' 217' 203 


1916 


e' 330' 185 


1917 


14 794' 062 


1918 


16' 068' 456 


1919 


13' 259' 472 







Year. 


King, or spring. 


Red, or sockeye. 


Total. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


Cases. 


Value. 


1898 


12,862 
23, 400 
37, 715 
43, 069 
59, 104 
47, 609 
41,956 
42,125 
30,834 
43,424 
23,792 
48, 034 
40,221 
45, 518 
43,317 
34, 370 
48,039 
88, 251 
65,873 
61,951 
49, 226 
151, 733 




782,941 
864,2.54 
1, 197, 406 
1,319,335 
1, 685, .546 
1,687,244 
1,505,548 
1,574,428 
1,475,960 
1,295,113 
1,662,678 
1,705,302 
1,450,267 
1,315,318 
1,900,355 
1,96.5,237 
2,201,643 
1,932,312 
2,110,937 
2,488,381 
2,533,737 
1,204,343 




965,097 
1, 078, 146 
1,548,139 
2,016,804 
2,536,824 
2,246,210 
1,953,756 
1, 894, 516 
2,219,044 
2, 169, 873 
2,618,048 
2,395,477 
2,413,054 
2,823,817 
4,054,641 
3, 739, 185 
4,056,653 
4,500,293 
4,900,627 
5,947,286 
6,605,835 
a 4, 592, 201 




1899 








1900 








1901 








1902 








1903 








1904 








1905 


$141,999 
116,222 
181, 718 

. 99,867 
207, 624 
214, 802 
295, 088 
243,331 
139, 0.53 
241, 105 
408, 266 
353,420 
644,447 
485,295 
1,820,796 


$5,335,547 

5,620,875 

5,915,227 

7, 524, 251 

7,610,550 

7,774,390 

8,363,233 

10,426,481 

8,936,362 

12,289,517 

11,248,101 

12, 765, 733 

23, 610, 789 

23,920,347 

15,656,459 


$6,304,671 
7 896 392 


1906 


1907 


8 78l! 366 


1908 


10 185 783 


1909 


9,438 152 


1910 


11 086 322 


1911 


14, 593' 237 


1912 


18 291 917 


1913 


13' .531' 604 


1914 


18 920 589 


1915 


is' 6.53' 015 


1916 


23 269 429 


1917 


46, 304^ 090 


1918 


51 041 949 


1919 


42, 128, 540 







a Includes 91 cases of stcellieads; value not given. 



170 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
Output a of Canned Salmon in Alaska, 1912 to 1918.6 



Product. 


1912 


1913 


1914 


1916 


1916 


1917 


1918 


Total. 


Coho, or silver: 

i-pound flat 

i-pound flat 

l-pound tall 


Cases. 
2,719 
17 
163,462 


Cases. 
3,587 
266 
71,926 


Cases. 
4,579 
285 
152,199 


Cases. 
2,050 
2,338 

119,880 


Cases. 
13, 145 
8,191 
240,573 


Cases. 
30,412 
362 
162,457 


Cases. 
26,238 
12,786 

179,934 


Cases. 
82,730 
24,245 
1,090,431 


Total 


166, 198 


75, 779 


157,063 


124,268 


261,909 


193, 231 


218,958 


1,197,406 






Chum, or keta: 

J-pound flat 


2,795 


985 

2,619 

287,314 


373 

5,568 

657,918 




1,423 


26,760 

2,530 

877,457 


3,559 

2,996 

1,358,405 


35, 895 


317 
479, 629 


14,030 


l-pound tall 


661, 838 


722,692 


5,045,253 


Total 


664,633 


290,918 


663, 859 


479,946 


724, 115 


906,747 


1,364,960 


5,095,178 






Humpback, or pink: 

i-pound flat 

l-pound flat 


13, 712 


20, 822 

3,258 

1,348,801 


2,103 

9,286 

974, 660 


4,325 

3,50S 


41,491 
14.796 


91,403 

6,014 

2, 199, 559 


63,557 

20,215 

2,355,182 


237,413 
57,077 


l-pound tall 


1,266,426 


1,867,68:^ i 1,681) 506 


11,693,817 


Total 


1,280,138 


1,372,881 


986,049 


1,875,516 


1,737,793 


2,296,976 


2,438,954 


11,988,307 






King, or spring: 

J-pound flat 

l-pound flat 


5,151 


1,585 


3,143 

4,804 
40,092 


2,404 

3,755 

82,092 


2,617 

3,804 

59,452 


12, 973 
5,133 

43, 845 


6,000 
5,267 
37,959 


33,873 
22,763 


l-poimd tall 


38, 166 
43,317 


32,785 


334,391 


Total 


34,370 


48,039 


88,251 


65,873 


61,951 


49,226 


391,027 






Red. or sockeye: 

|-pound flat 

l-pound flat 

l-pound tall 

IJ-pound nomi- 
nals 


28,024 

16,242 

1,856,089 


29,041 

11,735 

1,924,461 


53,825 

64, 671 

2,083,147 


52,033 

112,847 

1, 765, 139 

2,293 


81,565 

86, 395 

1,936,971 


124,309 

89,612 

2,274,460 


137,008 

151, 864 

2,244,865 


505, 805 

533,366 

14,085,132 

2,293 


2-pound nominal s 








6,006 






6,006 
















Total 


1,900,355 


1.96.5.237 


2,201,643 


1,932,312 


2,110,937 


2,488,381 2.533.737 


15,132,602 












Grand total 


4,054,641 


3, 739, 185 


4,056,653 


4,500,293 


4,900,627 


5,947,286 


6,605,835 


33,804,520 



Average Annual Price per Case op Forty-Eight 1-pound Cans of Alaska 

Salmon, 1908 to 1918.6 



Product. 


1908 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


1915 


1916 


1917 


1918 


Coho, or silver 


$3.98 
2.53 
2.69 
4.20 
4.52 


$4.07 
2.28 
2.40 
4.32 
4.53 


$4.89 
3.04 
3.15 
5.34 
5.30 


$5.67 
3.72 
3.94 
6.48 
6.33 


$4.44 
2.37 
2.55 
5.37 
5.45 


$3.45 
2.21 
2.58 
4.04 
4.54 


84.39 
3.37 
3.50 
5.01 

5.58 


$4.31 
2.59 
2.78 
4.63 
5.82 


$5.34 
3.34 
3.64 
5.36 
6.04 


$8.76 
6.14 
6.44 

10.40 
9.48 


$9.15 


Chum, or keta 


6.27 


Humpback, or pink. . . 

King, or spring 

Red, or sockeye 


6.58 
9.85 
9.44 



a The number of cases showii has been put upon the common basis of forty-eight l-pound cans per case. 
b From "Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1918," p. 49, by Ward T. Bower. Appendix VII, Re- 
port, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1918. Washington, 1919. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



171 



Pack of Canned Salmon in British Columbia Since the Inception of the 

Industry, by Waters. 



Year. 



1876. 
1877. 

1878. 
1879. 
1880. 
1881 . 
1882. 
188:5. 
1884. 
1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Total. 



Canner- 
ies oper- 
ated. 



Fraser 
River. 



Cases. 
7,247 
55,387 
81,446 

50. 490 
42, 155 

142,516 
199, 204 
105, 701 
34,037 
89,617 
99,177 
130, 088 
76,616 
310, 122 
244, 352 
177,989 

98. 491 
474,237 
363, 566 
432,920 
375,344 
879, 776 
264, 225 
527, 396 
331,371 
99S,913 
327, 197 
237, 125 
128, 903 
877, 136 
240,486 
163,116 

89,184 
567, 203 
223, 148 
301,344 
173, 921 
732,059 
328, 390 
289, 199 
106, 440 
377, 988 
206, 003 
158, 718 



12,119,943 



Skeena 
River. 



Cases. 



3,000 

8,500 

10,603 

19, 694 

21,.'-)60 

24,522 

31,157 

53, 786 

12,900 

37,587 

58,592 

70, 106 

58, 405 

91,645 

77,0,57 

90, 750 

59,021 

61,005 

69, 356 

97, 803 

61,310 

80,102 

112, 562 

135, 424 

125,845 

155, 936 

98, 609 

154, 869 

114,085 

162,420 

159, 255 

209,177 

140, 739 

222, 035 

254, 410 

254, 258 

164, 055 

237,634 

279, 161 

223, 158 

292,219 

374,216 

398, 877 



5,367,525 



Rivers 
Inlet. 



Cases. 



5, 635 
10,780 
20,383 



15,000 

11,203 

20, 000 

21,722 

33,500 

36,500 

14,955 

35,416 

40, 161 

58, 575 

107, 473 

40,090 

105,362 

76, 428 

74, 196 

66, 794 

70, 298 

69,390 

94,292 

83,122 

122, 878 

94,064 

75, 090 

91,014 

129,398 

101,066 

137,697 

68, 096 

109.052 

146, 838 

85,383 

95,302 

103, 155 

80,367 



2,550,675 



Naas 
River. 



Cases. 



6,500 
9,400 
8,500 



12,318 
19,800 
24,700 
11,058 
26, 100 
15, 6S0 
20,000 
20, 541 
14, 049 
20,000 
20,000 
19,442 
20,200 
15,004 
23.212 
12, 100 
19,085 
32, 725 
32, 534 
31,832 
46,908 
40,990 
39,720 
65, 6S4 
71,162 
53,423 
94, 890 
104, 289 
126, 686 
119,495 
143,908 
97, 512 



Outlying 
districts. 



Cases. 



5,500 

4,600 

6, 400 

7,000 

6, 000 

1,200 

4, 200 

5,000 

7, 162 

17,060 

11,907 

18, 425 

25, 848 

7,500 

6,300 

22, 453 

26, 007 

22, 862 

29,f,91 

45,349 

40, 656 

50,518 

56,390 

68, 745 

60, 392 

71,142 

99.192 

122,330 

127,974 

147, 900 

226, 461 

359,538 

336, 268 

341,073 

313,894 

453,398 

672, 481 

788, 875 

657. 682 



5,275.373 



Total. 



Cases. 
7,247 

58,387 

89,946 

61,093 

61,849 

169,576 

240, 461 

163, 438 

123, 706 

108,517 

162,964 

204,083 

184,040 

417, 211 

411,257 

314,511 

248, 721 

610,202 

492, 232 

587, 692 

617, 782 

1,027,183 

492,551 

765, 519 

606,540 

1,247,212 

627, 161 

473,674 

465, 894 

1,167,460 

629, 460 

547, 459 

542,089 

907,920 

762,201 

948, 965 

996,576 

1,353,901 

1,111,039 

1,133,381 

995,065 

1,557,485 

1,616,157- 

1,393,166 



26, 753, 563 



Number of Salmon Canneries Operated in Various Sections of British 
Columbia in Recent Years. 



Year. 


Eraser 
River. 


Naas 
River. 


Skeena 
River. 


Rivers 
Inlet. 


Outlying 
districts. 


Total. 


1910 


23 
22 
18 
36 
21 
22 
23 
29 
16 
U 


4 
4 
4 
4 
5 
5 
5 
6 
7 
7 


12 
12 
12 
13 
13 
13 
14 
14 
15 
15 


7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
7 
8 
9 
9 
9 


12 
14 
16 
18 
17 
16 
23 
32 
36 
32 


58 
59 


1911 


1912 


57 


1913 


78 


1914 


63 


1915 


63 


1916 


73 


1917 


90 


1918 


83 


1919 


74 







172 



U. S, BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Pack, by Districts and Species, of Canned Salmon in British Columbia from 

1903 a TO 1919. 



Districts and species. 


1903 


1904 


1905 


1906 


1907 


1908 


Fraser River district: 


Cases. 


Cases. 
1,066 
45,667 


Cases. 


Cases. 


Cases. 


Cases. 




25,728 

4,504 

204,809 

2,084 


30,836 

3,304 

837,489 

5,507 


34,413 

15,543 

183,007 

6,503 

1,020 


35, 706 
63,530 
59,815 

3,448 
557 


24,198 


Pinks 


415 




72,688 
9,482 


63,120 




1,427 




18 












Total 


237, 125 


128,903 


877,136 


240, 486 


163,116 


89, 184 






Skeena River district: 




35,329 
5,515 












9,648 
20,045 
50,908 
18,008 


7,247 

7,52:5 
84, 717 
14,598 


16,897 
38,991 
86,394 
20,138 


15,247 

25, 217 

108, 413 

10,378 


10,085 


Pinks 


45, 404 




93, 404 
20,621 


139, 846 




13,374 




468 


















98,669 


154,869 


114,085 


162,420 


159, 255 


209, 177 










61 

358 












219 

180 

68,119 

872 




66 


5,040 

700 

87, 874 

450 


9,505 


Pinks 




479 




93,862 
11 


82,771 
351 


122,631 

181 


64,652 




454 






Total 


69,390 


94,292 


83,122 


122, 878 


94,064 


75,090 






Naas River district: 




31 
1,697 










Cohos 


2,187 


3,083 

1,840 

24,462 

3,340 


5,997 

3, 450 

22, 166 

858 

63 


6,093 
5, 957 
17,813 
1,288 


8,348 




6, 612 


Sockeves 


8,438 
1,475 


15,000 
2,357 


27,584 




3, 203 


Springs, white 




Steelheads 








681 


1,101 
















12,100 


19,085 


32,725 


32,534 


31,832 


46,908 










1,155 
13, 114 












14,136 
2,653 

36,383 
3,218 


3,292 

1,303 

51,2:54 

4,503 


ii,759 
10,321 
45, 481 
3,581 


25,754 
23,300 
40, 159 
7,595 
2,382 
2 


29,781 


Pinks 


23,538 




48,272 
6,204 


59,815 


Springs, red 


6,915 


" Springs, white 


2,245 


Steelheads 






1 


36 








1 




Total 


56,390 


68,745 


60,392 


71, 142 


99,192 


122,330 






TOTAL BY SPECIES. 




37,642 
66,351 












51,918 

27,382 

368,717 

25,657 


44,458 

13,970 

1,080,673 

28,359 


69, 132 

6 68,305 

459,679 

31,261 

1,083 


87,900 

6 118,704 

314,074 

23,159 

2,939 

683 


81,917 


Pinks 


6 76,448 




323, 226 
38,675 


355,023 




25,433 




2,731 










1,137 














Grand total 


473, 674 


465,894 


1,167,460 


629,460 


547, 459 


542,689 







a In 1901 in the Fraser River district 920,313 cases of sockeyes were packed, and in 1902 sockeyes were 
packed as follows: 293,477 cases in Fraser River district, 117,67"7 cases in Skeena River district, 68,819 cases 
In Rivers Inlet district, 20,953 cases in Naas River district, and 30,510 cases in outlying districts. 

b Pinks and chums combined. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



173 



Pack, by Districts and Species, of Canned Salmon in Buitish Columbia from 

1903 TO 1919— Continued. 



District and species. 



Fraser River district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, white... 



Total. 



Skeena River district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

. Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, while — 
Steelheads 



Total. 



Rivers Inlet district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sopkeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, white. . 



Total. 



Naas River district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, white.. 
Steelheads 



Total. 



Outlying districts: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red — 
Springs, white. 

Total 



TOTAL BY SPECIES. 



Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red — 
Springs, white. 
Steelheads 



Grand total . 



1009 



Ca.<<es. 



1910 



21,540 

1,987 

542, 248 

1,428 



567,203 



12,249 
2S,120 
87,901 
11,727 
742 



1,400 



89,027 
587 



91,014 



Cases. 

52, 177 

27, 8.")5 

128 

133,045 

1,018 

8,925 



223, 148 



11,531 

13,473 

187, 246 

9,546 

2;i9 



222,035 



1911 



Cnsea. 

47, 2:?7 

39, 740 

142, ini 

58, 487 

7,028 

6,751 



301,344 



1912 



Cases. 
12,961 
28, 574 
574 
108,784 
14,655 
8,373 



173,921 



70 

23,376 

81,956 

131,066 

15,514 

2,428 



254, 410 



2,075 

19 

126, 921 

383 



288 
6,287 
5,411 
88,763 

317 



129,398 I 101,066 



6,818 
3,589 
28, 246 
2,280 
57 



40,990 



19,911 
12,848 
9:3,019 
2,196 



127,974 



61,918 

n 46, 544 

840,441 

IS, 218 

799 



967,920 



351 

6,285 

895 

30,S10 

1,228 

11 

140 



39,720 



5, 189 

7,842 

11,467 

37,327 

3,434 

325 

100 



65,684 



504 
39,628 
97, 588 
92, 498 
19,332 
4,501 

207 



254,258 



1913 



Cases. 
22,220 
11, («S 

9, d-:>, 

684,596 

3,573 

49 



732,059 



18,647 
66,045 
52,927 
23, 2,50 
3,186 



3,845 

11,010 

8,809 

112,884 

681 

468 



137,697 



3,245 
12,468 
12,476 
36,037 
5,710 
1,226 



71,162 



5,834 
26,636 
20,098 
87,893 

7,138 
301 



147,900 



39, 167 
42,4.57 
64,312 
67,866 
12,458 
201 



37,770 
73,422 
128, 296 
94,559 
21,967 
3,524 



226,461 1 359,538 



3,660 

2,097 

61,745 

594 



68,096 



2,987 

3,172 

20,539 

23,574 

2,999 

152 



53,423 



52, 7.58 
32,695 
94, 2.U 
149, 336 
7,017 
329 



58,362 

74,382 

34,613 

565,915 

19,313 

9,476 

140 



91,951 

119,702 

305,247 

383,509 

38,751 

9,705 

100 



762,201 948,965 



58,32.5 

165, 102 

247, 74:! 

444,762 

62,345 

18,092 

207 



996,576 



336,268 



77,965 
69,822 
192,887 
972, 17S 
37, 433 
3,616 



1,353,901 



1914 



Cases. 

74,726 

38,6.39 

6,0.57 

185,483 

9,48.5 

14,000 



328, ;w 



8,329 
16,378 
71,021 
130, 166 
11,529 
211 



237,634 



5,023 

7,789 

5,784 

89,890 

566 



109,052 



25,569 
9,276 
25,333 
31,327 
2,660 
725 



94,890 



70, 827 
48,119 
112, 145 
99,8:ffl 
8,068 
1,484 



341,073 



184,474 
120,201 
220,340 
536, ()96 
32,908 
16, 42t) 



1,111,039 



o Pinks and chums combined. 



174 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Pack by Districts and Species, of Canned Salmon in British Columbia from 
1903 TO 1919— Continued. 



District and species. 



Fraser River district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, white 

Steelheads 



Total. 



Skeena River district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, white 

Steelheads , 



Total. 



Rivers Inlet district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, white... 
Steelheads 



Total. 



Naas River district: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red 

Springs, white.. 
Steelheads 



Total. 



Outlying districts: 

Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red. . . 
Springs, white. 
Steelheads 



Total. 



1915 



CaMS. 

18,539 

34,114 

128,555 

89,040 

15,388 

3,532 

31 



289, 199 



TOTAL BY SPECIES. 



Chums 

Cohos 

Pinks 

Sockeyes 

Springs, red. .. 
Springs, white. 
Steelheads 



Grand total. 



5,769 

32, 190 

107,578 

116,. 553 

15,069 

204 

1,798 



279, 161 



5,387 
7,115 
2,964 
130, 350 
1,022 



146,838 



1916 



30, 184 

27,676 

840 

27,394 

11,096 

9,217 

33 



106,440 



1917 



Cases. 

59,973 

30, 735 

134,442 

123,614 

10, 197 

18,916 

111 



377,988 



17,121 

47,409 
73,029 
60,923 
18,372 
2,561 
3,743 



223, 158 



20,144 
15,314 

3,567 
44,936 

1,033 
389 



11,076 

15,171 

34,879 

39,349 

3,0,53 

648 

113 



104, 289 



41,229 
58,366 
93,. 376 
100,7,50 
17,202 
1,986 
985 



313, 894 



82,000 

146,956 

367,352 

476,042 

51, 734 

6,370 

2,927 



1,133,381 



85,383 



11,200 
19, 139 
59, 593 
31,411 

3,061 
784 

1,498 



126,686 



161,552 
77,181 

143,615 
50,125 

17,669 

2, .544 

712 



21,516 

38, 4.56 

148,319 

65,760 

13, .586 

2,699 

1,883 



292,219 



16,101 
9,124 
8,065 
61, 195 
715 
102 



95,302 



24,9.38 

22, 180 

44,568 

22, 188 

3,170 

1,326 

1,125 



1918 



Cases. 
86, 215 
43,871 
18,388 
16,849 
15, 192 
24,853 
635 



206,003 



22,573 

38, 759 

161,727 

123,322 

16,013 

6,828 

4,994 



374,216 



6,729 
12,074 
29, ,542 
53, 401 
957 
452 



103, 155 



119,495 



453,398 



240,201 

186,719 

280,644 

214, 789 

.51,231 

15,495 

5,986 



995,065 



352,745 
64,814 
161,365 
67,091 
20,962 
4,603 
901 



672, 481 



475,273 

165,309 

496, 759 

339,848 

48, 6.30 

27, 646 

4,020 



1,657,485 



40,368 

17,061 

59,206 

21,816 

2,332 

1,820 

1,305 



143,908 



341,7.30 
87,. 359 
258, 882 
61,071 
31,041 
7, 866 
926 



788,875 



497, 615 
199, 124 

527, 745 

276, 459 

65, .535 

41,819 

7,860 



1,616,157 



r PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 175 

MARKET PRICES FOR CANNED SALMON. 

The manner of fixing the selling price at which the canner is willing 
to dispose of his canned product varies slightly in certain regions. 
In May or June, when the spring-packing season has sufficiently 
advanced so that a line can be gotten on the probable pack of Chi- 
nook, the highest priced of the pack, the Columbia River canners 
agree upon a price, this usually being high or low, as the pack is small 
or large. 

Since the Alaska Packers Association was formed, through a com- 
bination of a number of canneries operating in the Territory of 
Alaska, it has packed annually in recent years about one-fourth of 
the salmon canned. It also owns several canneries on Puget Sound, 
thus being quite a factor in that region also. 

In the early days of the association the custom grew up amongst 
the smaller packers of Alaska and Puget Sound of waiting until the 
association fixed the prices on its own pack, when the others would 
generally fall into line with the same prices for thcii" packs. This 
custom is still in vogue. At no time has it ever been compulsory 
on the part of any packer to adopt the same prices as the association. 
In fact, it has sometimes been the case that, while the small packer 
publicly quoted the association's opening prices, yet in secret he was 
shading it by 2^ to 5 cents per dozen on certain grades. In recent 
years this has frequently been the case and the big packers, who 
adhered to the opening prices, have had to sit idly by and watch 
their small competitors underselling them and getting the bulk of 
the business until they had finally disposed of their goods, when, 
necessarily, they would have to drop out of the market until the 
next season. 

Occasionally the other packers do not like a certain quotation of 
the association and make one more nearly in consonance with their 
own views. This happened in 1913, when the association quoted 60 
cents for chums, while the Puget Sound canners quoted 55 cents for 
this grade, and in 1915 when the association quoted 65 cents for 
chums and the Puget Sound interests 70 cents for the same grade, 
thus showing clearly the independence of the smaller packers. 

Owing to a peculiar feature of the salmon marketing business, 
more depends upon the opening prices than appears on the surface 
to the uninitiated. 

Shortly after the first of the year buyers throughout the world 
begin to take stock of their salmon supplies and shortly thereafter 
begin placing their "future" orders. These cover the quantity 
required of each grade, and when the buyer orders through a broker 
the orders are placed subject to a contract similar to the following: 

The undersigned hereby authorizes ■ — ■ — ■ — to book the number of cases of canned 

salmon specified belo^v■. said bookine: to be filed with packers for deliA'ery from 

(naming year) pack, subject to buyers' approAal of opening prices when named; the 
option being granted buyers oj confirming the total number of cases specified below; con- 
firming a smaller quantity, or declining any confirmation. 

furthermore agrees that buyers shall have the option of increasing quantities 

listed below, when he names opening prices for his packers, contingent upon his 
ability to secure at that time an increased allotment from his packers. In event 

secures an increased allotment from his packers insufficient to meet all increases 

requested by his patrons, he will distribute such increase as he can secure among 
the dealers who have filpd conditional contracts with him, according to the date order 
that said contractf* ha^-" 1 cen received ii. his office. 



176 U. S. BUEEAU OF FISHERIES. 

Under this form of contract the packer is expected to be ready to 
fulfill the terms of same, except in case of a short pack, when tho 
orders are generally prorated; i. e., all orders are proportionately 
reduced until they come within the compass of the pack. Should 
the buyer dislike the opening price he has the privilege of canceling 
the order. While this latter privilege may not, at first glance, look 
just to the packer, yet it is doubtful if any buyer would place a 
''future" order unless he was assured of a chance to cancel it should 
he feel that too high a sum was fixed in the opening prices. 

Some canneries contract to sell their entire output to one buyer, and 
the price fixed is usually the opening prices for the year in question. 
In such cases the buyer and seller are both compelled to abide by the 
price, no matter how unjust one or the other may consider it. 

The association does not announce its opening prices until late in 
August or early in September, when the greater part of the packing: 
is over with and a good line on the total pack has been obtained, and 
it speaks well for the discernment of the officials of the association: 
that their judgment as to prices should meet with the general approval 
as often as it does. 

AMERICAN OPENING PRICES. 

Below are shown the yearly opening prices on the various grades 
and sizes from 1890 to 1919. Tne most interesting part of this is 
the increase shown in the value of high-grade salmon. Columbia 
River chinook was quoted at $1.05 for 1-pound tails in 1897, and it 
gradually advances until in 1919 it is quoted at $3.15. Alaska red 
1 -pound tails in 1897 sold for 90 cents, the lowest during the period 
in question, advancing, with occasional recessions, until in 1919 it 
reached high-water mark of $3.25. In 1897 Puget Sound 1-pound 
tall sockeye sold for 80 cents, 10 cents below Alaska red. In 1898 it 
sold for 20 cents less than reds. In 1902 it sold for $1 as compared 
with 95 cents for Alaska red, and from that time on brought a higheri 
price, being quoted at $3.15 in 1919 as compared with $2.35 fon 
Alaska red. No sockeye 1-pound talis were packed in 1919. 

Medium red or coho does not figure in the opening prices until 1908, 
when Puget Sound coho sold for 5 cents a dozen more than Alaska 
coho. Very shortly thereafter, however, both were classed together 
and sold for the same price. This grade has not had the wide fluc- 
tuations of the others, due mainly to the generally small pack mad© 
annually. 

Pink salmon has been the football of the salmon market ever since 
the pack became of sufficient size to become a feature in it. The 
size of the pack has been steadily increasing, as the fish became 
better known, and while the price obtained has been excellent in 
certain years (in 1911 it sold at $1 per dozen, the highest point 
reached up to that time, usually the price has been low. In 1897 it 
was quoted at 65 cents. In 1915 the opening price was 75 cents, but 
as a matter of fact a large part of the pack really sold for 65 cents. 
The lowest point it reached was in 1903, when it was quoted at 50 
cents a dozen. As a result of the demand created by tne war pink 
salmon opened at 90 cents in 1916, $1.65 in 1917 and 1918, and $2.25 
in 1919. The market collapsed under the last-named price, how- 
ever, and is now (1920) not more than one-half of it. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



177 



It is only of recent years that chum salmon has become a factor m 
the market, xilthough sold for some time before then, chum salmon 
appears first in the regular opening prices in 1908, when it was 
quoted at 70 cents a dozen. In 1913 it was quoted at 55 cents 
while the opening price in 1915 was 70 cents on Puget Sound and 65 
cents at San Francisco. During the war the opening prices on 
chums were materially increased, being 85 cents in 1916, SI. 60 in 
1917, $1.75 in 1918, and S2.15 in 1919. As in the case of chums the 
market collapsed under the 1919 price, and some sales under $1 
were made in 1920. 

The pack of Alaska and Puget Sound kings or springs has always 
been small, and while they have always been quoted at $1 per dozen 
or better (in 1919 they were quoted at $3.12^) they have always been 
slow sellers. It is extremely improbable that the canned pack will 
increase much in the future, as this fish is the best for mild curing, 
and as the mild curers are able to oft'er better prices for the raw fish 
than the canneries, they will always get the fish when desired. 

American Opening Prices Per Dozen Cans Since 1890. 

1890 to 1902. 



Year and species. 


Tails. 


Year and species. 


Tails. 


Year and species. 


Tails. 


1890. 
Columbia River cliinook 


$1.40 

1.20 

.75 

1.35 

1.20 

.75 

1.35 
1.15 

.75 

1.32i 

1.17i 

.65 

1.35 

1.10 

.60 


1895. 
Columbia River chinook 


$1.32i 

1.15" 

.80 

1.25 
1.10 
.75 

1.05 
.95 
.80 
.65 

1.05 
.974 
.80 
.65 


1899. 
Columbia River chinook 


81.25 
1 10 




Alaska pink 


Puget Soimd sockeye. . . 
Alaska pink 


1 10 




18%. 
Columbia River chinook 


67* 


1891. 

Columbia River Chinook 
Alaska red 


1900. 

Coliunbia River chinook 
Alaska red 






1.60 




Alaska pink 






Puget Sound sockeye. . . 
Alaska pink 




1892. 


1897. 

Columbia River chinook 
Alaska red . ... 


1.10 
.75 


Cohmibia River chinook 
Alaska red 


1901. 

Columbia River chinook 
Alaska red 




Alaska pink 






1.50 


1893. 


Puget Soiuid sockeye. . . 


1 25 


Columbia River chinook 


Puget Soimd sockeye . . . 
Alaska pink 


.95 


1898. 

Columbia River chinook 
Alaska red 


.75 


Alaska pink 


1902. 
.Columbia River chinook 




1894. 
Columbia River chinook 


1.35 
1 00 


Alaska red 


Puget Sound sockeye . . . 
Alaska pink 


Puget Sound sockeye. . . 


1 00 


Alaska pink 


65 











1903 to 1919. 



Year and species. 


Tails. 


Flats. 


Halves. 


Year and species. 


Tails. 


Flats. 


Halves 


1903. 

Puget Sound sockeye 

Columbia River chinook 


$1.50 
1.35 
1.30 
.50 

1.45 
1.55 
1.30 
.70 


$1.60 
1.45 


$0.90 
.85 


1905. 

Columbia River chinook 

Puget Sound sockeye 


?1.45 
1.35 
1.00 
.70 

1.50 
1.45 
.95 
.75 


$1. ,>;5 
1.50 


$0.90 
4.00 


Alaska pink 










1904. 

Columbia River chinook 

Puget Sound sockeye 

Alaska red 


1.15 

1.65 


.90 
.95 


1906. 

Columbia River chinook 

Puget Soimd sockeye 

Alaska red 


1.60 
1.60 


1.00 
1.00 


Alaska pink 






Alaska pink 







11312°— 21- 



-12 



178 



TT. S. BUKEAU OF FISHERIES. 



American Opening Prices Per Dozen Cans Since 1890— Continued. 

1903 to 1919— Continued. 



Year and species. 



Tails. 



Flats. 



Halves 



Year and species. 



Tails. 



1907. 

Columbia River Chinook . . . 

Puget Sound sockeye 

Alaska red 

Alaska pink 

1908. 

Columbia River chinook . . . 

Puget Soimd sockeye 

Puget Sound pink 

Puget Sound coho 

Alaska red 

Alaska king 

Alaska coho 

Alaska pink 

Alaska chum 

1909. 

Columbia River chinook, 

fancy 

Puget Sound sockeye 

Alaska red 

Alaska king 

Alaska coho 

Alaska pink 

Alaska chum 

1910. 

Columbia River chinook, 

fancy 

Puget Sound sockeye 

Alaska red 

Alaska king 

Alaska pink 

Alaska chum 

Medium red and coho 

1911. 

Columbia River chinook, 

fancy 

Puget Sound sockeye 

Alaska red 

Alaska medium red 

Alaska king 

Pink 

Chum 

1912. 

Chinook 

Sockeye 

Alaska red 

Alaska medium red 

Alaska king 

Pink 

Chum 

1913. 

Chinook 

Sockeye 

Alaska red 

Alaska medium red 

Alaska king 



$1.65 
1.60 
1.1.5 



1.65 
1.60 

. 75 
1.05 
1.15 
1.05 
1.00 
.70 
.70 



1.65 
1.35 
1.15 
1.10 
1.05 
.60 
.57i 



1.75 
1.65 
1.35 

1.35 
.SO 
.77^ 

1.25 



1.95 

1.95 
1.60 
1.45 
1.80 
1.00 
.95 



1.95 
1.95 
1.40 
1.15 
1.40 
.65 
.62i 



1.95 
1.50 
1.15 
.85 
1.00 



81.75 
1.75 



1.75 
1.75 
.80 
1.15 



1.75 

1.50 
1.35 



1.90 
1.80 
1.50 



2.00 

2.00 
1.75 
1.65 
2.00 
1.15 
1.05 



2.00 
2.00 
l.CO 
1.25 
1. 60 
.65 



2.00 
1.65 
1.35 
1.00 
1.15 



$1. 05 
1.10 



1.05 
1.05 



.75 



1.05 
1.00 
.85 



1.10 
1.10 
1.00 



1.30 
1.30 
1.12i 
1.00 

i.m 

.80 
.75 



1.25 

1.30 
1.15 
.80 
1.15 
.55 
.50 



1.25 
1.05 
.95 
.70 



Pink.. 
Chum. 



1914. 

Chinook 

Sockeye 

Alaska red 

Medium red 

Alaska king 

Pink 

Keta, or chum . . 



1915. 

Chinook 

Sockeye 

Alaska red 

Medium red 

Alaska king 

Pink 

Keta, or chum . . 



1916.C 



Chinook 

Sockeye 

Alaska red . . 
Medium red. 
Alaska king. 

Pink 

Chum 



Chinook 

Sockeye 

Alaska red . . 
Medium red. 
Alaska king. 

Pink 

Chum 



191S.d 
Chinook: 

Faney 

Standard 

Bluebacks 

Sockeye 

Alaska red 

Medium red: 

Alaska 

Puget Sound, etc. 

Pink 

Chum: 

Alaska 

Puget Sound, etc. 
Steelhead 



1919. 

Chinook 

Sockeye 

Alaska red 

Tips and tails. 

Alaska king 

Medium red 

Pink 

Chum 



$0.65 
1.55 



1.95 
1.95 
1.45 
1.15 
1.40 
.90 
.85 



1.90 
1.95 
1.50 
1.15 
1.25 
.75 
6.70 



1.90 
2.05 
1.50 
1.30 
1.35 
.90 
.85 



2.90 
2.90 
2.35 
2.00 
2.25 
1.65 
1.60 



3.15 
2.75 



'3.15 
2.35 

2.25 
2.40 
1.65 

1.60 
1.75 
3.00 



3.15 



3.35 
3.10 

ft 3. 121 
3.00 
2.25 

«2. 15 



a The opening price in San Francisco was 60 cents. 

b The opening price in San Francisco was 65 cents. 

c The KeUey-Clarke prices differed from these in the following particulars: Red tails, $1.60; red halves, 
$1.26; medium red tails, $1.35; mediiun red flats, $1.50; medium red halves, $1.00; pink tails, $1.00; 
Chum tails, 95c.; and King tails, $1.40. 

d Maximum prices set by U. S. Food Administration. 

« Pack of 1-pound tails and 1-pound fiats taken for British Oovernment at these prices. 

/ No price named by Alaska Packers Association or Deming & Gould Co. 

e Alaska Packers Association and Northwestern Fisheries Co. quoted $3.25; others reduced to conform. 

A Quoted by Alaska Packers Association only. 

t Alaska Packers Association quoted $2.10. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



179 



f 



BRITISH COLUMBIA OPENING PRICES. 



The packers of British Columbia and the United States both sell 
a considerable portion of their high-grade salmon abroad, and the 
competition thus engendered compels a fairly close conformity in 
prices. On salmon sold in the domestic markets, however, the 
competition is not so keen; hence there is room for a considerable 
diversity of opinion as to values. Unlike the United States, there 
is a very small market in Canada for chum salmon, and it has only 
been in recent years that opening prices have been fixed on this 

grade. 

British Columbia Opening Prices Since 1902.<» 



(Prices are for full cases.] 



Year and species. 



Sockeye. 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



1902. 



Sockeye 

Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



Sockeye — 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



Sockeye — 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



Sockeye — 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



Sockeye. 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



1907. 



1908. 



Sockeye — 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



1909. 



Sockeye — 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



Tails. 



$4. 75 
4.00 
3.7.5 
2.50 



4.a5 
4.00 
3.75 
2.60 



5.75 
5.2.5 
4.25 
2.75 



5.00 
4.50 
4.00 
2.60 



5.50 
5.25 
4.50 



5.50 
5.50 
4. .50 
3.00 



.6.10 
5.75 
4.75 
3.25 



5.25 
5.10 
4.25 
2.75 



1910. 

Sockeye 6.50 

Red spring 5. 75 

Coho , 5. 00 

Pink 3.25 



1011. 



Sockeye 

Red spring. 
Coho 



7.75 
6.50 
6.00 



Flats. 



$4.90 
'2.' 56' 



2.50 
6.25 



5.30 
5.00 



4.75 
3.00 



5.50 
4.50 
3.00 



5.75 
5.00 
3.25 



5.60 



7.00 
6.00 
5.50 



Halves. 



$6.75 



8.25 



6.50 



Year and species. 



Pink.. 
Chum. 



1911. 



Sockeye 

Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 

Chum 



1913. 



Sockeye 

Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



Sockeye 

Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 



Sockeye. 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 

Chum 



1915. 



Sockeye. 
Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 

Chum 



1916. 



1917. 



Sockeye 

Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 

Chum 



Tails. 



$4.00 
3.75 



9.00 
7. 75 
7.25 
3.00 
2.75 



6.00 
5.75 
4.25 
2.50 



7.50 
6.75 
4.75 
3.50 



8.25 
6.75 
4.50 
3.25 
2.75 



9.00 
8.00 
6. .50 
3.75 
3.00 



10.00 
8.00 
6.65 



Sockeye 1 14. .50 

Red spring 1 13.00 

Coho 11. 50 



Pink.. 
Chum. 



Sockeye 

Red spring. 

Coho 

Pink 

Chum 



8. .50 
6.75 



12.00 
"6.' 75' 



Flats. 



$4.25 



9.25 



7.25 
3.00 



15.00 
13. 25 
12.00 
8.75 



12. .50 
9.00 



Halves 



$5.50 



10.75 
9.25 
7.50 
4.60 



6.25 


7.75 


5.75 




4.50 




2.50 




8.75 


9.25 




"s.'so 


8.25 


10.25 


"5.' 66" 




3.50 


4.75 




11.00 




9.50 




9.00 




5.25 


4.00 






16.00 


12.00 


i:?.oo 


11.00 


12.50 




9.25 



16.00 
14.00 
13.00 
10. 00 
7.75 



17.50 
16.00 
13.50 
10.00 



o These opening prices have been furnished by H. Bell-Irving & Co. (Ltd.), of \aiuouvor, British 
Columbia, (.Canada, well known packers and handlers of canned salmon. 



180 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
PICKLING INDUSTRY. 



The salmon-pickling industry was so overshadowed by its giant 
brother, the canning industry, that statistical data, except for Alaska, 
were found in extremely fragmentary shape, and only that portion 
is shown relating to Alaska from the time of annexation to and 
including 1919. 

Pack op Salted Salmon in Alaska, 1868 to 1919. 



Year. 


Salmon. 


Salmon bellies. 


Dry-salted salmoA. 


Barrels. 


Value. Barrels. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


1868 


2,000 

1,700 

1,800 

700 

1,000 

900 

1,400 

1,200 

1,800 

1,950 

2,100 

3,500 

3,700 

1,760 

5,890 

7,251 

6,106 

3,230 

4,861 

3,978 

9,500 

6,457 

18,039 

8,913 

17,374 

24,005 

32,011 

14, 234 

9,314 

15,848 

22, 670 

22,382 

31,852 

24,477 

30,384 

27, 921 

13, 674 

19, 071 

17,283 

22,307 

34,337 

28,915 

12, 779 

8,483 

34, 602 

37, 881 

25,954 

12, 058 

17, 259 

36,165 

56,837 

8,110 


$16, 000 

13,600 

14, 400 

6,300 

9,000 

7,200 

11,200 

9,600 

14, 400 

15, 700 

16, 800 

28, 000 

29,600 

15, 840 

53,010 

65,259 

54, 954 

29,070 

43, 749 

35, 802 

85,500 

58, 013 

162,351 

71,304 

140, 057 

120, 083 

176,060 

85,404 

65, 198 

110,936 

181,360 

167, 865 

238, 890 

171,3.39 

212, 688 

223,368 

89,209 

143,811 

126. 194 
203, 127 
293,377 
183, 400 
111,634 
102, 477 
305, 928 
272, 726 

247. 195 
157, 457 
205, 706 
584, 962 

1, 078, 456 
195,447 










1869 










1870 










1871 










1872 










1873 










1874 










1875 










1876 










1877 










1878 










1879 










1880 


300 


$3,300 






1881 






1882 










1883 










1884 










1885 










18S6 










1887 










1888 










1889 










1890 










1891 










1892 


53 


815 


•■ 




1893 






1894 










1895 










1896 


150 

2,846 

580 

235 

2,353 

652 

328 

3,667 

208 

1,360 

1,338 

2,965 

4,736 

1,970 

1,626 

1,337 

37 

451 

40S 

571 

475 

225 

53 


1,200 






1897 


28,460 

5,800 

2,3.50 

23,530 

3,816 

2,952 

32, 973 

1,950 

11,355 

13,644 

37, 422 

59,330 

25, 358 

19, 007 

15,561 

606 

6,523 

5,467 

13, 610 

6,961 

5,535 

1 . 49.=; 






1898 






1899 








511,400 


$10,228 


1901 


1902 






1903 


300, 000 

966,812 

7,280,234 

1, 107, 680 

107, 580 

20, 800 

71, 600 

22, 178 

33, 285 


5,500 

16, 180 

115,643 

16, 969 

1,505 

416 

1,038 

554 

1,340 


1904 


1905 


1906 


1907 


1908 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


21,282 
12, 200 


1,235 
810 




1915 


1916 


44, 552 
371, 600 


2,408 
33,044 


1917 


1918 


1919 




212,244 


17 601 








Total 


757 927 


7,058,006 


28,924 


328,950 


11,083,447 


224,471 







PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 181 

Alaska Pickled-Salmon Pack. 1906 to 1918, by Species, Quantity.o and Value. 



Species. 


1906 


1907 


1908 


1909 


1910 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Valiw. 


Whole salmon: 

Coho 


539 

231 

2,446 

1,007 

13,060 


$5,642 
1,550 

13,852 
8,058 

97,092 


1,665 
233 

4,248 

964 

15,197 


$16,406 

1,521 

29,374 

10,684 

145.142 


692 

122 

2,346 

660 

30,517 


$5,648 

707 

17,935 

6,813 

262,274 


318 

35 

1,557 

441 

26,508 


$2,485 

190 

9,405 

3,798 

167,298 


160 


$1,504 


PhiiTn 




' Humpback 

Kine 


330 

352 

11,931 


1,998 
3,399 


Red. 


104,649 








Total 


17,283 jl26,194 


22,307 ,203,127 


34,337 


293,377 


28, 859 


183,176 


12,773 


111, ,5,50 






Bellies: 

Coho 






191 


2,696 


229 

117 

2,447 

48 
1,895 


3,535 
699 

28,140 
720 

26,236 


255 


3,843 


126 

70 

616 

6 

808 


1,135 


Chirm 


30 

1,273 

22 

13 


150 

13,188 

185 

121 


770 


Humpback 

King 

Red 


1,800 
84 
890 


21,080 
1,002 
12,644 


738 
35 
942 


7,438 

175 

13,902 


6,135 

128 

10.839 






Total 


1,338 


13,644 


2,965 


37, 422 


4,736 


59,330 


1,970 


25,3,58 


1,626 


19,007 






Backs, etc.: 

Humpback 














56 


224 






King 














2 
4 


24 


Red 


















60 






















Total 














56 


224 


6 


84 


















Grand total... 


18,621 


139, 838 


25,272 


240,549 


39,073 


352,707 


30, 885 


208, 758 


14,405 


130,641 



Species. 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Whole salmon: 
Coh . . . 


223 
133 

1,122 
600 

6,239 


$2, 149 

666 
11,238 

8,095 
79, 578 


1,165 

93 

4.236 

225 

28,8*5 


$9,565 

652 

28,304 

2,442 

264,965 


1,006 

100 

2,724 

135 

33,916 


$6,452 

778 

18,181 

1,410 

245. 905 


365 
53 

482 

269 

24,785 


$2, 767 


Chum 


293 


Humpback 

King 


2,954 

2,588 


Red 


238,593 






Total 


8,317 


101.726 [ 34,602 I 305.928 


37,881 1 272,726 


25,954 


247,195 










Bellies: 

Coho 


38 
7 

676 
2 

614 


489 

77 






54 
67 
324 


946 

941 

4,546 


67 

18 

229 

2 

92 


982 


(hum ... 






180 


Humpback 

King 


5,122 

30 

9,843 




37 


606 


2,620 
13 


Red 






6 


90 


1,672 










Total 


1,337 


15.561 


37 


606 


451 


6,523 


408 


5,467 










Backs, etc.: 

Humpback 

King 


150 

1 

15 


600 

15 

136 


























Red 




























Total 


166 1 751 




























Grand total 


9.820 118,038 


34,639 


306,534 


38,332 279,249 


26,362 


252,662 



a Barrels hold 2U0 pounds of ii^b; when oi a diti'erent size they have been reduced to couiuim to this 
weight. 



182 



U. S, BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Alaska Pickled-Salmon Pack, 1906 to 1918, by Species, Qttantity, and Value— 

Continued. 



Species. 



Whole salmon: 

Coho 

Chum 

Humpback. 

King 

Red , 



Total. 



Bellies: 

Coho 

Chum , 

Humpback. 

King 

Red , 



Total 

Backs, etc : Coho.. 
Grand total . 



Barrels. Value. 



1,763 
325 
662 
377 

8,931 



12, 058 



819,393 
2, 925 
5,958 
4,147 

125,034 



157,457 



1916 



Barrels. Value. 



2,076 

495 

503 

636 

13,549 



17,259 



2,660 



10,950 



13,610 



27 
285 

61 

2 

100 



475 



12,629 171,067 17,734 



$22,287 
4,057 
3,624 
7, 956 

167, 782 



205, 70Q 



500 
3, 556 

882 

23 

2,000 



6,961 



Barrels. Value, 



1,798 

1,722 

5,576 

359 

26, 710 



36,165 



11 
73 
110 
7 
24 



225 



36,390 



$29,631 

21,899 

73, 857 

6,556 

453,019 



584,962 



326 

1,362 

2,885 

150 

812 



5,535 



1918 



Barrels. Value 



2, 501 
6,080 

11,973 
297 

35,977 



56,828 



10 



590,497 



$47, 152 

84,878 

182,490 

7,645 

756,191 



1,078,356 



180 



650 
■595 



1,425 



100 



1,079,881 



Pack of Salted Salmon in Alaska in 1919. o 



Products. 6 



Southeast Alaska. 



Barrels. Value 



Central Alaska. 



Barrels. Value. 



Western Alaska. 



Barrels. Value. 



Total. 



Barrels. Value. 



Coho, or silver 

Chum, or keta 

Humpback, or pink. 

King, or spring 

Red, or sockeye 



706 
70 
26 

241 
12 



$13, 206 

2,080 

260 

4,542 

355 



204 
27 
SO 

8 
587 



$3,024 
135 
700 
232 

12,380 



292 
41 
45 

618 
5,183 



$5, 918 
555 
548 

16,267 
135, 245 



1,202 
138 
121 

867 
5,782 



$22, 148 

2,770 

1,508 

21,041 

147,980 



Total. 



1,055 



20,443 



876 



16, 471 



6,179 



158, 533 



8,110 



195,447 



a From "Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1919," p. 50. By Ward T. Bower. Appendix IX 
Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1919. Washington, 1920. 
6 Each barrel holds 200 pounds of fish. 

MILD-CURING INDUSTRY. 

The beginning of this industry on the Pacific coast is of compara- 
tively recent date, and the following table is complete, with the pos- 
sible exception of a few tierces, which may not have been reported 
for the coastal rivers of Oregon: 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 183 

Tierces of Mild-Cured Salmon Packed on Pacific Coast prom 1897 toT919.<» 



Year. 


Alaska. 


British 
Colum- 
bia. 


Puget 
Sound , 
Wash. 


Grays 
Harbor, 
Wash. 


Willapa 
Harbor, 
Wash. 


Colum- 
bia 
Rivor 

(both 
sides). 


Coastal 
rivers, 
Oreg. 


Eel 
River, 
Calif. 


Sacra- 
mento 
River, 
Calif. 


Mon- 
terey 
Hay 
CaUf. 


Total. 


1897 












400 
700 
1,250 
1,275 
3,000 
4,213 
6,725 
9,088 
9,805 
8,000 
6,070 
4,960 
5,540 
7,922 
8,185 
5,824 
5,746 
5,205 
4,078 
4,656 
1,886 
1,804 
3,328 










400 


1898 


70 
130 


















770 


1S99 






375 












1,755 


1900 










950 
3,100 
2, 325 
3, 600 
4,719 
2,979 
2,177 
4,102 
3,243 
5,111 
5,516 
2,011 
3,274 
4,789 
1,829 
1,630 

650 
1,508 
1,913 
2,355 


'"'564' 
354 
248 
310 
510 
582 
252 
911 
75 
160 

"""550' 

1,476 

942 

1,069 

300 

266 

1,055 


2,225 


1901 


67 

67 

8 

34 

189 

1,126 

1,657 

1,378 

2,292 

3,357 

3,164 

5,245 

7,443 

4,091 

2,966 

4,898 

3,563 

3,948 

5,370 


"'i,'i75' 

957 

1,993 

1,060 

1,560 

1,638 

1,965 

1,489 

3,150 

3,182 

1,119 

1,848 

429 

729 

1,173 


600 

425 

824 

1,250 

3,000 










6,767 


1902 






i88 





7,722 


190;} 






11,511 


1904 






""a15 

740 
740 


200 

""m 

140 


15, 539 


1905 






17,873 


1906 






13, 685 


1907 

1908 


2,060 


20 


100 


17, 464 
1(3, 893 


1909 

1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 


2,109 
2,435 
2,745 
3,013 
3,923 
1,934 
2,2.35 
1,755 
1,063 
1,093 
2,423 


75 

67 

■100 

357 

250 


29 

so' 

40 
50 


560 

1,398 

1,247 

3,082 

2,381 

457 

333 

194 


80 

""'iio' 

100 

3' 


18,267 
22,408 
19,717 
22,424 
28,282 
18,174 


1915 






13,306 


1916 






15,070 


1917 






8,749 


1918 






275 
148 


455 

6 1,326 


10, 483 


1919 






17,184 










Total 


51,069 


23, 467 


32,887 


1,244 


249 


109,660 12,158 


2,589 


57,781 


9,564 


300,668 



o The net weight of fish in a tierce is about 800 pounds, js.111 
almost exclusively. From most places the data are complete from 
but from a few minor places the data are somewhat fragmentary 

fc Includes Fort Bragg, on Noyo River. 



King, Chinook, or spring salmon were used 
rom the time of the inception of the industry, 



YUKON TERRITORY, CANADA. 

Some salmon fishing is carried on in that section of the upper 
Yukon River which lies in Yukon Territory, Dominion of Canada. 
The species taken are principally king and dog, and these are sold 
mainly in a fresh condition. The following table shows the quantity 
taken and the value of same in certain years: 

Catch of Salmon in Yukon Territory, Canada, in Specified Years. 



Year. 


Salmon. 


Year. 


Salmon. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


1903 


70,000 
138,574 
169,900 
229,000 
224, 100 
182,000 


$5,600 
17,566 
18, 689 
22,900 
22, 410 
18,200 


1914 


188, 600 
157,000 
143,500 


$18, 800 
15,700 


1909 


1915 


1910 


1916 


14, 350 


1911 


1917 




1912 


1918 






1913 


1919 















TRADE WITH OUTLYING POSSESSIONS. 

As a result of the war with Spain the United States in 1898 ac- 
quired possession of Porto Rico, Guam, and the Philippine Islands, 
while in the same year Hawaii became a part of this country at its 
own request, and in 1900 two islands of the Samoan ^roup were 
acquired by a partition agreement with Great Britain and Germany. 
The trade with the Philippine Islands is shown to date in the tables 



184 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



of exports and imports to foreign countries, but the trade with the 
other possessions has been eliminated from these tables and shown 
separately ever since their annexation to the United States, 



HAWAII. 



The islands constituting this Territory, owing to their reciprocity 
treaty with this country for a number of years before annexation, 
purchased their supplies of salmon from the United States almost 
exclusively. In recent years the Territory has imported the following 
quantities of salmon from the mainland: 



Year ending 


Canned salmon. 


All other 
salmon, 
fresh or 
cured. 


Year ending 
June 30— 


Canned salmon. 


All other 
salmon, 


June 30 — 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


fresh or 
cured. 


1907 


1,120,217 
9ti5, 029 
1,440,410 
1,381,398 
1,231,264 
1,850,567 
1,841,874 


$89,286 
89,025 
121, 716 
113,526 
119,872 
194, 385 
173,202 


Value. 

$64,232 
67, 143 
73,848 
72, 194 
76,572 
57,495 
(«) 


1914 


1,418,941 
1,005,848 
1,582,528 
1,463,729 
1,168,528 
979,895 


$97,532 
90,705 
132,597 
145,531 
174, 777 
159,577 


Value. 

(O) 


1908 


1915 


(») 


1909 


1916 


1910 


1917 


1911 


1918 


?a) 


1912 


1919 


(•) 


1913 











a Not shown separately. 

PORTO RICO. 

Of recent years the following shipments of domestic salmon have 
been made to this island: 



Year ending 
June 30 — 



1907 
1908 
1909 
1910 
1911 
1912 
1913 



Canned salmon. 


All other 






salmon, 
fresh or 






Pounds. 


Value. 


cured. 






Value. 


604,627 


$53,916 


$2,893 


512, 038 


48, 195 


1,428 


381,171 


34, 777 


3,810 


511, 055 


43,494 


6,243 


357,382 


30,699 


3,868 


710,721 


65,354 


1,208 


666,602 


66,811 


(•) 



Year ending 


Canned salmon. 


June 30— 


Pound.s. 


Value. 


1914 


416, 414 
588, 889 
860, 873 
881,360 
378,266 
468,501 


$41,726 
56,527 
60, 453 
70,427 
52, 737 
68,532 


1915 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 





All other 
salmon, 
fresh or 
cured. 



Value. 
(«) 
(«) 
(») 
(•) 



o Not shown separately. 

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 

Of recent years the following shipments of domestic salmon have 
been made to these islands: 



Year ending 


Canned salmon. 


All other 
salmon, 
fresh or 
cured. 


Year ending 
June 30— 


Canned salmon. 


All other 
salmon, 


June 30— 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


fresh or 
cured. 


1909 


1,126,470 
5, 425, 404 
3,069,118 
5, 096, 810 
10,122,820 
5, 034, 252 


$74, 792 
396,604 
225, SS5 
422, 001 
590, 128 
266,369 


Value. 
$712 
2,089 
3,542 
2,437 
(«) 
(«) 


1915 


4, 159, 580 
5,640,858 
4, 202, 574 
5,558,796 
3,880,425 


$288, 548 
356,366 
351,633 
618,697 
431,616 


Value. 
(«) 
C) 

(a) 


1910 


1916 


1911 


1917 


1912 


1918 


(o) 


1913 


1919 


(0) 


1914 











o Not shown separately. 



i 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 
ALASKA. 



185 



It seems like "carrying coals to Newcastle" to ship canned salmon 
to Alaska, from which Territory more than half the canned salmon 
of the world is produced, and yet a small business is done each year 
in this line, most of the product going to the mining camps and towns 
somewhat removed from the fishing sections. 

The table below shows the shipments of such fish in recent years. 
After 1914 the shipments were lumped together with all other kinds 
of hsh and thus prevented the listing of salmon separately. 



Year ending 


Canned salmon. 


All other 

salmon, 

fresh or 

cured. 


Year ending 
June 30— 


Canned salmon. 


All other 
salmon, 


June 30— 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


fresh or 
cured. 


1909 


67,132 
67, 658 
38,265 


$7, 123 
7,204 
4,513 


Value. 
$3,966 
3,558 
1,061 


1912 


134,320 
43,346 
42,945 


$15,022 
5,074 
5,278 


Value. 

$4,218 


1910. 


1913 


(a) 


1911 


1914 


(o) 









a Not shown separately. 
GUAM. 

Since annexation, this country and Japan have been competing for 
the trade of this island, which, in earlier years, Japan controlled quite 
largely. During the last two years shown in the statement, however, 
the United States has secured the advantage. The table below shows 
the extent of the trade, which is made up almost entirely of salted 
or pickled salmon, only 900 pounds of fresh salmon, valued at $92, 
having been shipped by this country to Guam in 1908. Since 1909 
all the fishery products imported have been lumped under one head- 
ing and it has been impossible to distinguish the salmon from the 
other species. 



Year and country. 



1905. 

United States 

Japan 

1907. 

United States 

Japan 



Pickled salmon. 



Pounds. Value 



1,415 
16, 526 



13,604 
19,862 



$71 
1,221 



1,086 
1,601 



Year and country. 



1908. 

United States 

Japan 

1909. 

United States 

Japan 



Pickled salmon. 



Pounds. Value 



7,406 
6,130 



10, 779 
4,295 



$623 
465 



740 
344 



TUTUILA, SAMOA. 

The customs statistics lump the imports of fish under one general 
heading, thus making it impossible to show separately the imports 
of salmon. 

FOREIGN TRADE IN SALMON. 

As we do not consume all of the salmon produced by our fisheries, 
it is necessary to find a foreign market for the surplus each season, 
but, as cannecl salmon has become one of the staples of the world, there 



186 U. S, BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

is not much difficulty in this respect, especially since our only compet- 
itors are Canada, Siberia, and Japan. The two last named have not 
yet become important factors in the canned-salmon market, though 
they will as their fishing operations are extended. There is more 
competition in the pickled, fresh, and frozen markets, several Euro- 
pean and Asiatic coimtries being large producers of these goods, as 
IS Canada also, for a considerable proportion of which she is com- 
pelled to find an outside market. 

The World War greatly disturbed the usual course of our foreign 
trade. Because of the need for foodstuffs a tremendous demand 
arose in Europe for our salmon, resulting in a decided increase in 
the quantities shipped there and, for a while, in a reduction of our 
exports in other directions. In time, however, the markets adjusted 
themselves to the changed conditions of trade. 

EXPORTS OF DOMESTIC CANNED SALMON. 

From the beginning of the industry a considerable proportion of the 
salmon canned has been exported, especially of the higher grades. 
In Europe the chief customer is Great Britain, followed closely in the 
closing 3^ears of the war by Italy. Great Britain does not, how- 
ever, consume this quantity, for a considerable part of her importa- 
tions are reexported. On the North American Continent and adja- 
cent islands the best customers are Mexico, Cuba, Panama, and the 
British West Indies, in the order named. The heavy shipments to 
Canada since 1916 are mainly in transit shipments to Europe by 
Canadian steamship lines as our lines were overburdened with war 
shipments. In South America, Chile, Peru, Argentina, and Ecuador 
were the leading markets in 1918. In Asia, Hongkong and China 
import canned salmon, although neither buys great quantities. The 
islands of the Pacific and Indian Oceans are large consumers. British 
Australasia took 7,811,387 pounds, valued at $1,407,561 in 1918, and 
other good customers were the British East Indies and British, 
French, and German Oceania. In Africa the British and Portuguese 
possessions are the largest importers. 

The movements of these products are naturally often influenced 
favorably or adversely as the tariffs of the various countries in which 
they are marketed are raised or lowered. 

Some countries maintain excessively high tariffs, among these being 
Brazil, 30 cents per pound; Colombia, 8| cents; Mexico, 4 cents; 
Guatemala, Ql cents; Paraguay, 7 cents; Uruguay, 6 cents; Austria- 
Hungary, 8 cents, and Germany, 7 cents. Norway levies 6 cents a 
pound duty, but this is undoubtedly to protect her own salmon 
mdustry. 

In but few of the tariff acts is canned salmon distinguished by name, 
being usually classed as "preserved fish," and as these are usually 
luxuries in many countries they bear an extra high duty as a result. 

In addition to these high duties in some countries, especially in 
South America, there are various other charges, fees, etc., which 
materially enhance the value of the goods before they reach the 
consumer. C. H. Clarke, of the salmon brokerage firm of Kelley- 
Clarke Co., of Seattle, Wash., prepared and published a statement "■ 

a Pacific Fisherman, Vol. 13, No. 5, p. U, 1915. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



187 



showing the comparative charges on 100 cases each of red Alaska and 
pink canned salmon from the time they leave Seattle up to the time 
they reach the hands of wholesalers in South America. This shows 
that the f. o. b. Seattle value of the red salmon was $500 and of the 
pink salmon S280. By the time these goods reached the hands of the 
Rio de Janeiro wholesalers the red salmon were worth $1,900.07, while 
the pink salmon were worth SI, 677. 87. At Montevideo, Uruguay, 
the red salmon were worth SI, 4.36. 01 and the pink salmon $1,213.81, 
The table is so interesting and instructive that it is reproduced entire 
herewith. 



Comparative Charges on 100 Cases Each of Red Alaska and Pink Canned 
Salmon from Seattle, Wash., to Hands of Wholesalers in South America. 





Argentina 
(Buenos Aires). 


Brazil 
(Rio de Janeiro). 


Chile 
(Valparaiso). 


Ecuador 
(Guayaquil) 




Red. 


Pink. 


Red. 


Pink. 


Red. 


Pink. 


Red. 


Pink. 


F. 0. b. Seattle value 


$500. 00 

5.00 

104.75 

6.10 
615.85 
2.00 
519.56 
2.12 
2.41 
7.24 
1.49 


.?2S0. 00 

5.00 

104. 75 

3.90 
393.65 
2.00 
519.56 
2.12 
2.41 
7.24 
1.49 


$500.00 

5.00 

114.50 

6.20 

625. 70 

3.25 

1,138.78 

6.47 

33.90 


$280. 00 

5.00 

114.50 

4.00 

403. 50 

3.25 

1,138.78 

6.47 

33.90 


S500.C0 


$280.00 


$500.00 


$280 00 






Freight 


45.00 

5.50 
550. 50 

5.25 
160. 46 


45.00 

3.25 
328. 25 

4.25 
160. 46 


45.00 

5.50 
550.50 
22.35 
345.37 


45 00 


Marine insurance, 5 per cent 

f. p. a 

C 1 f value 


3.25 
328 25 


Consular fees in United States. 


14.00 
234 37 






Storage in custonihouse 


5.35 
2.51 
1.43 


5.35 
2.51 
1.43 






Handling in customhouse 

Stamps and entry blanks 

Statistics 












.... 


.10 
7.77 
57.20 


.10 

7.77 
57.20 






Internal-revenue tax 










■ 




Port tax 
















12.74 

7.64 

1,171.05 


12.74 

7.64 

948. 85 


7.15 

3.65 

736.30 


7.15 

3.65 

513.05 






Wharfage, lighterage, cartage... 


26.90 
1,900.07 


26.90 
1,677.87 


19.30 
937. 52 


19.30 
706. 92 








Paraguay 
(Asuncion). 


Peru 
(Callao). 


Uruguay 
(Montevideo). 


Venezuela 
(La Guayra). 




Red. 


Pink. 


Red. 


Pink. 


Red. 


Pink. 


Red. 


Pink, 


Fob Seattle value 


8500. 00 

5.00 

134. 75 

9.60 
649.35 

2.00 
308. 25 


$280.00 

5.00 

134.75 

6.30 
426. 05 

2.00 
308. 25 


$500.00 


$280.00 


$500.00 

5.00 

104.75 

6.10 
615.85 

1.05 
779.30 


$280.00 

5.00 

104.75 

3.90 
393.65 

1.05 
779.30 


$500.00 
5.00 
54.60 

5.60 

565.20 

12. sr, 

238. 96 


$280. 00 




5.00 


Freight 


37.50 

5.40 

542.90 

5.75 

275. 86 


37.50 

3.20 

320. 70 

3.45 

275.86 


54.60 


Marine insurance, 5 per cent 

f. p. a 

C 1. 1. value 


3.40 
343.00 


Consular lees in United States. . 


12.85 
238. 06 


































16.15 
1.55 


16.15 
1.55 












.58 


.58 


1.35 


.97 




.37 


.37 










































4.86 

15.69 

845. 64 


4.86 

15.69 

621.14 


15.50 

6.61 

1,436.01 


15.50 

6.61 

1.213.81 


5.00 

12.82 

836.18 


2.80 


Wharfage, lighterage, cartage... 
Value ex customhouse 


6.33 
966.30 


6.33 
743. 00 


12.82 
611.40 



























The following table shows in summarized form the yearly exports 
of domestic canned salmon and the countries to which exported for 
the years 1900 to 1915, inclusive, and in detailed form for the years 
1916 to 1918, inclusive; 



188 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Exports, by Countries Receiving, op Domestic Canned Salmon. 

SUMMARY, 1900-1915.0 



CJoimtry 


1900 


1901 


1902 


1903 


receiving. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Europe 

North America 
South America 


18,941,109 
1,051,808 
1,868,225 

654,126 
3,882,646 

684,456 


$1,881,725 
98,064 
192,918 
67,941 
390,466 
62,534 


31,877,663 
2,443,561 
1,577,013 

853,434 
3,681,276 

856,553 


$3,234,862 
297,440 
160,862 

86,571 
367,533 

83,003 


30,683,551 
2,780,844 
1,291,998 
1,597,346 
8,179,161 
2,640,214 


$2,625,284 
242,029 
107,907 
120,674 
670,741 
224,767 


35,410,768 
4,285,406 
1,756,214 
1,759,294 
5,511,514 
1,630,138 


$3,125,197 
378,655 
121,918 
134,783 


Oceania 

Africa 


444,505 
145,733 





Country receiving. 


1904 


1905 


1906 


Potmds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Poimds. 


Value. 


Europe ^ 


33.691,896 
2,446,023 
2,055,859 

12,995,768 

3,898,606 

936,126 


$3,508,818 
204,363 
147,333 
930,054 
341,849 
92,181 


21,071,263 

1,565,773 
1,708,828 
3,994,802 
5,257,446 
1,468,383 


$1,877,509 
132, 134 
134,941 
280,704 
467,928 
142,253 


32,061,402 
2,069,357 
3,499,603 
779,415 
6,340,346 
1,194,291 


$2,753,643 
171,946 




South America.. 


249 052 




60,173 


Oceania 


S09 257 


Africa 


103,872 





Country receiving. 



Europe 

North America 
South America. 

Asia 

Oceania 

Africa 



1907 



Pounds. 



7,756,780 
3,052,658 
5,659,690 
1,419,391 
6,719,157 
610,429 



Value. 



$791,436 
261,138 
414,774 
105,364 
552,205 
58, 132 



1908 



Pounds. 



13,321,086 
2,654,175 
5,571,000 
1,004,571 
5,131,554 
543,659 



Value. 



$1,205,375 
242,879 
410,743 

86,908 
439,917 

52,696 



1909 



Pounds. 



23,028,476 
2, 209, 405 
1,461,662 
1,386,702 
7,383,494 
647,370 



Value. 



2,207,194 
198,043 
123,502 
119,582 
705,204 
62,911 



Country receiving. 



1910 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Europe 

North America 
South America. 

Asia 

Oceania 

Africa 



44,765,898 
2,224,516 
3,193,812 
1,596,775 

11,568,824 
510,871 



$4,712,182 
191,551 
226,197 
133,516 
998,219 
52,593 



22,134,328 
1,979,950 
3,006,927 
1,489,282 
9,699,624 
290,688 



$2,408,708 
190,637 
266,903 
148,721 
991,540 
30,633 



19,545,720 
3,411,176 
6,756,440 
1,702,426 

11,220,515 
787,479 



$2,183,982 

332,692 

609,383 

160, 119 

1,255,149 

79,238 



Country receiving. 



Europe 

North America, 
South America. 

Asia 

Oceania 

Africa 



1913 



Pounds. 



25,408,154 
4,271,710' 
4,134,771 
3,593,538 

17,419,390 
463,403 



Value. 



$2,705,254 

370,823 

292,367 

254,209 

1,441,270 

39,417 



1914 



Pounds. 



62,862,328 
6,907,615 
3,472,438 
2,875,995 

12,089,003 
353,541 



Value. 



$6,026,170 

511,545 

233,675 

180,402 

1,017,994 

29,507 



1915 



Pounds. 



63,760,758 
4,328,246 
1,301,962 
1,135,793 

12,100,414 
818,943 



Value. 



$7,110,728 
370,444 
107,783 
97,662 
1,309,376 
76,450 



o Detailed statistics tor 1900 to 1915, inclusive, may be found in " Pacific Salmon Fisheries," by John N. 
Cobb, Appendix III, Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1916, pp. 187-194. Washington, 1917. 



PACIFIC vSALMON FISHERIES. 



189 



Exports, by Countries Receiving, of Domestic Canned Salmon — Continued. 

DETAILS, 1916 TO 19lS.a 



Country receiving. 



EUROPE. 



Belgium 

Denmark 

France 

Gibralt ar 

Greece 

Iceland, and Faroe Islands. 

Italy 

Malta, Gozo, etc 

Netherlands 

Norway 

Portugal 

Russia in Europe 

Serbia and Monten gro 

Spain 

Sweden 

United Kingdom: 

Endand 

Scotland 

Ireland 



NORTH AMERICA. 



Bermuda 

British Honduras 

Canada 

Central American States; 

Costa JRica 

Guatemala 

Honduras 

Nicaragua 

Panama 

Salvador 

Mexico 

Miquelon, Langley, etc 

Newfoundland and Labrador. 
West Indies: 

British- 
Barbados 

Jamaica 

Trinidad and Tobago. 
Other British 

Cuba 

Danish 

Dutch 

French 

Haiti 

Santo Domingo 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



Argentina. . 

Bolivia 

Brazil 

Chile 

Colombia. . 

Ecuador 

Guiana — 
British. 
Dutch., 
French. 

Peru 

Uruguay... 

Venezuela. . 



Aden. 
China. 
China, leased territory: 

Japs 
Chosen. 



Poimds. 



366 
3,447; 



4, 
60, 

109, 039, 
1,067, 



89, 599 

32,021 

7,994,185 

118,002 

58, 528 

37,695 

36,644 

633, 645 

21,404 

1,611,929 

957 

700 



60,361 
228,973 
267, 548 

75, 578 
927, 129 

11,582 

21, 599 
4,772 
3,586 

85, 722 



273,900 

14,579 

40, 732 

2, 812, 537 

130,254 

240, 149 

1,S4,654 
87,398 
26, 128 

523, 580 
23, 464 

195,618 



27,718 



96 
1,632 



Value. 



?29, 255 
377, 597 



6,059 

16 

3,170 

702 

2,865 

4,383 

2 



17 

382 

6,666 

11,105,506 
111,381 



8,741 

3,228 

677,655 

8,878 

4,084 

3,651 

3,064 

57,042 

1,826 

132,406 

100 

37 



5,767 
19,017 
26,060 

7,097 
87,479 

1,063 

2,122 
477 
361 

7,048 



23, 429 
1,466 
3,921 
192,581 
11,514 
16,009 

18,249 
8,048 
2,371 

36,361 
1,841 

16, 234 



2,817 



16 

172 



1917 



Pounds. 



1, 115, 792 

89,405 
985, 582 



190, 736 

2,820 

4,169,250 

5,520 

20, 450 

54,440 

60 

240 



37, 481 
14,100 

74,941,169 
1,131,832 



. 93, 523 

30,057 

9,158,079 

95, 435 
45, 484 
26, 168 
50, 719 
454,064 
18,368 
3,707,225 
3,026 
2,640 



73,610 

180,965 

134, 832 

103, 004 

1,619,230 

34, 598 

24,673 

4,770 

4,297 

231, 413 



191,618 
122,092 
64, 657 
1,452,155 
126,861 
276, 654 

196, 261 
39, 050 
17,909 

434,329 
5,258 

297, 125 



42,017 



192 
2,520 



Value. 



14, 

436, 
2, 



3,369 
1,800 

, 536, 248 
139,718 



22,066 

3,072 

838, 734 

8,065 

4,708 

3,080 

6,029 

50, 793 

2,134 

342, 564 

377 

286 



8,643 

18,347 

18, 230 

12,001 

149, 492 

4,100 

2,782 

543 

486 

22,859 



19,043 
11,724 
7,599 
121,019 
22,576 
25,302 

26,637 
3,888 
1,910 

37,447 
590 

28,158 



6,177 



32 
466 



Pounds. 



18,000 



7,937,490 

1,156,864 

173,400 

96 

13,540,046 



1,315 



,415,026 

848,295 
900 



87,832 
25, 178 

12,184,077 

10, 750 

19,026 

10, 536 

33, 421 

306, 765 

6,691 

1, 800, 185 

60 



97, 722 

86, 503 

372, i20 

32,116 

1,632,073 

23, 629 

8,370 

548 

1,793 

100, 417 



353, 103 
211,978 
187,615 
2,304,499 
75,477 
215, 456 

151,719 
35, 143 
26, 560 
1,150,276 
6,630 
181, 236 



2,832 
68,949 

144 
1,062 



Value. 



S2, 525 



1,167,737 

167, 157 

24,935 

16 

1,752,163 



274 



7,447,389 

129, 652 

220 



16,028 

3,410 

1,755,690 

1,643 
2,584 
1,612 
5,115 
49,031 
1,144 
246, 830 



18, 121 

14, 170 

61,443 

5,760 

210, 167 

4,633 

1,683 

80 

349 

14, 148 



61,428 
24,478 
26,245 
330, 244 
11, 479 
28,360 

27, 749 

5,812 

3,825 

158, 794 

1, 509 

26,834 



472 
13,372 



30 
207 



• From Pacific Fisherman Yearbook for 1919, p. 93. 
June 30 of the year noted. 



Oostoms returns are for the fiscal year ending 



190 



U, S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



E XPORT8, BY Countries Receiving, op Domestic Canned Salmon — Continued. 

DETAILS, 1916 TO 1918— Continued. 



Country receiving. 



ASIA — continued . 

East Indies: 
British — 

British India 

Straits Settlements 

Other British 

Dutch 

French 

Hongkong 

Japan 

Persia 

Russia in Asia 

Slam 

OCEANIA. 

British: 

Australia and Tasmania... 

New Zealand 

Other British 

French 

German 

Philippine Islands 

AFRICA. 



British Africa: 

West 

South 

East 

Belgian Congo 

Canary Islands 

Egypt 

French Africa 

Italian Africa 

Liberia 

Portuguese Africa. 
Spanish Africa 



Total. 



RECAPITULATION. 



Europe 

North America. 
South America. 

Asia 

Oceania 

Africa 



1916 



Pounds. 



1,117,839 

1,215,214 

166, 144 

727,006 

4,712 

47, 558 

1,348 

24,960 

48 

1,392 



11,035,294 

216,292 

30,878 

290, 854 

448,860 

5,640,858 



100, 310 
620, 555 



10, 480 
105, 800 



110 
3,624 
37, 508 
9,700 



152,943,962 



114,163,722 

12,322,259 

4, 563, 993 

3, 336, 665 

17,659,036 

898, 298 



$91,767 

71, 585 

12, 787 

81,121 

615 

5,170 

141 

1,892 

4 

219 



1,204,354 
24,684 
2,923 
29, 201 
29, 434 
356, 366 



7,860 
56,255 



1,071 
9,534 



10 

366 

3,231 

911 



15, 032, 497 



11, 648, 003 

1,056,904 

332, 024 

268,306 

1,646,962 

80,298 



1917 



Pounds. 



601,935 

106, 896 

101,286 

374, 832 

6,816 

74, 585 

2,604 

9,600 



2,5 



6,990,835 
96,912 
141,735 
248,415 
357,386 

4, 202, 574 



613, 545 

1,421,021 

25, 608 

1,750 

7,200 



2,250 



2,810 
138, 580 
138, 580 



117,962,807 



82, 758, 877 
16,196,177 
3,314,969 
1, 326, 163 
12, 037, 857 
2,328,764 



Value. 



$62,264 

9,081 

10, 355 

42,693 

1,340 

9,570 

340 

800 



533 



865,865 
10,332 
14,749 
32,643 
37,172 

351, 633 



62,925 

157,853 

2,543 

331 

432 



235 



258 
13,291 
13, 291 



12,963,425 



9,390,858 

1, 565, 409 

305, 964 

142, 641 

1,312,394 

246, 159 



Pounds. 



1, 349, 057 

232, 755 

41,818 

405,326 

240 

86,203 

4,590 



6,048 



7,397,009 
240,240 
174,138 
186, 574 
285,605 

5, 558, 796 



480, 414 

1,293,714 

57, 275 

2,293 

836 

261,673 

20,268 



9,448 
52, 298 

8,845 



110,060,480 



70,092,226 
16,840,112 
4,899,692 
2, 199, 024 
13,842,362 
2, 187, 064 



Value. 



$222,947 

34, 468 

6,944 

66,240 

69 

14,678 

883 



1,012 



1,337,231 
45, 409 
24,921 
31,160 
39,071 
618,697 



72,960 

161, 423 

8,938 

463 

115 

42,335 

4,255 



1,499 
7,207 
1,175 



16,570,834 



10,692,246 

2, 413, 649 

706, 757 

361,322 

2,096,439 

300,371 



In 1918 the practice of publishing customs figures for the calendar 
year instead of the fiscal year, as had prevailed previously, was 
inaugurated. The following tables show the exports of canned 
salmon, by countries, for the calendar years 1918 and 1919: 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



191 



Exports, by Countries Receiving, of Canned Salmon, Calendar Years 1918 

AND 1919. 



Country receiving. 



1918 



Pounds. 



Value. 



1919 



Pounds. 



Value. 



EUROPE. 



Austria-Hungary 

Azores, and Madeira Islands 

Belgium 

Denmark 

Finland 

France 

Germany 

Gibraltar 

G reece 

Iceland, and Faroe Islands 

Italy 1 

Malta, Gozo, etc 

Netherlands 

Norway 

Portugal 

Rumania 

Russia in Europe 

Serbia, Montenegro, and Albania. 

Spain 

Sweden 

Switzerland 

Turkcv in Europe 

United Kingdom: 

England 

Scotland 

Ireland 



NORTH AMERICA. 

Bermuda 

British Honduras 

Canada 

Central American States: 

Costa Rica 

Guatemala 

Honduras 

Nicaragua 

Panama 

Salvador 

Mexico 

Miquelon, Langley, etc 

Newfoundland and Labrador 

West Indias: 

British — 

Barbados 

.Jamaica 

Trinidad and Tobago 

Other British 

Cuba 

Domtnican Republic 

Dutch 

French 

Haiti 

Virgin Islands of United States. 



SOUTH AMERICA. 



Argentina. . 

Bolivia 

Brazil 

Chile 

Colombia. . 
Ecuador. .. 
Guiana: 

British. 

Dutch. 

French. 
Paraguay . . 

Peru 

Uruguay... 
Venezuela.. 



18,072 



11,458,346 
"""273 '546' 



19, 654, 988 



Aden. 
China. 



43, 515, SSO 

154, 495 

1,320 



35,144 

8,560 

4, 077, 166 

5,310 
10, 492 
3,459 
11, 586 
172, 216 
4,290 
347, 384 



33, 074 
77,002 

153. 207 
10,148 

428. 208 
50, 887 

3,206 

184 

1,036 

20, 059 



255,950 
94, 076 

161,529 

1,316,148 

31,816 

40,358 

38,595 
13, 769 
5,456 



290,337 

6,240 

129, 457 



2,400 
41,980 



$2, 539 



1, 270, 675 
"44,' 593' 



2, 785, 844 



40 



6,742,494 
22, 672 

286 



6,288 

1,181 

620, 195 



1,374 

488 

1, 806 

30, 4S5 

741 

54,709 



6,305 
12,225 
24,923 

1 , 9S3 

60, 432 

7, 973 

701 

24 

190 

4,221 



51, 437 
8,765 

21, 625 

195, 478 

5, 493 

5,895 

7,765 
2,380 

778 



41, 262 
1,441 
19,907 



394 
8,579 



157, 396 

432 

5, 179, 022 

1, 082, 4:34 

68, 000 

15,947,105 

833, 793 

370, 890 

2,722,086 

12, 025 

36, 925, 190 

1,S92 

231, 710 

441, 776 

2(X) 

9,720 

19,500 

480 

79, 457 

88,012 

12, 184 

100, 040 

66, 524, 438 
1, 460, 082 
1, 459, 360 



53,429 

58, 194 

9, 587, 861 

98, 155 

74, 407 

50,936 

125, 179 

141,733 

29, 783 

4,917,900 

3,090 

108 



65,114 
367,119 
143,094 

37, 935 

l,646,itl3 

23s, 502 

17,078 

10, 456 
6, 199 

22, 498 



403, 019 

84, 5.59 

31,113 

1,-331,484 

275, 050 

368, 939 

122, 715 

68,581 

36, 562 

240 

1, ISO, 989 

47,412 

383, 120 



2,880 
90,232 



$33,394 
71 

970, 696 

181, 178 

13,010 

2, 525, 449 

147,7.s:$ 

85,860 

471, 5.55 

2,557 

4,801,911 

262 

40, 356 

87, 668 

38 

1,538 

2,795 

96 

16, 2.53 

17, 158 

2,414 

17, 072 

12, 78S, 932 
219, 951 
197, 677 



6,940 

9,409 

1,467,611 

16, 049 

12,599 

8, 693 

21,095 

25, 441 

5,173 

703, 262 

751 

21 



12,947 

51,537 

27, 023 

7,717 

238, 8.58 

36, 503 

4, 603 

2,422 

1,393 

4,447 



76, 0.52 
13, 087 
7,273 
214, 284 
47, 078 
55, 947 

25,974 

14,336 

7,007 

55 

18.5,839 

9,932 

63,321 



480 
19,088 



192 



U. S. BUEEAU OF FISHERIES. 



Exports, by Countriks Receiving, of Canned Salmon, Calendar Years 1918 

AND 1919 — Continued. 



Country receiving. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



ASIA— continued. 

China, leased territory: Japanese. . 

Chosen 

East Indies: 
British — 

British India 

Straits Settlements 

Other British 

Dutch 

French 

Hongkong 

Japan 

Russia in Asia 

Siam 

Turkey in Asia 



British: 

Australia 

New Zealand... 

Other British . . 

French 

German 

Philippine Islands . 



OCEANIA. 



Abyssinia 

Belgian Kongo 

British Africa: 

West 

South 

East 

Canary Islands 

Egypt 

French Africa 

German Africa 

Liberia 

Madagascar 

Morocco 

Portuguese Africa. 
Spanish Africa 



367, 273 
111,440 
26, 800 
124, .502 
240 
41,424 
25, 968 



4,800 



1,149,888 
26, 592 
67, 674 
116,535 
15.3, S40 
5, 291, 182 



. 2,354 

192,376 
121,990 
34, 260 



261,673 
17,136 



2,633 



2,788 



Total 91,101,734 



$10 



67,256 

16, 021 

4,495 

17, 692 

69 

7, 839 

3,259 



760 



215, 715 
4,8.35 
9,872 
19,203 
20,394 
579,410 



33,051 
18, 255 



42,335 
3,572 



539 



168 
5,274 



984, 672 

223,168 

61,814 

427, 298 

2,412 

116,912 

12, 03S 

192 

2,122 

20, 504 



5, 777, 713 
61,5.33 
93,423 
225, 429 
80, 577 

2,371,736 



92 
14,990 

976, 463 

1,269,317 

5,996 

59, 790 

939, 895 

32, 989 

50,465 

8,218 

48 

5,688 

31, 868 

36,266 



13,149,307 



169,750,672 



$4:? 
1,246 



193, 089 

42, 403 

13, 402 

71, 132 

692 

22, 628 

1,940 

52 

558 

3,646 



1,293,194 
13,919 
16,115 
42,303 
12,966 
279,408 



18 
3,251 

172,258 

284,633 

1,417 

8,025 

133,358 

7,208 

9,332 

1,761 

8 

932 

6,839 

7,009 



28,644,706 



The following table shows in summarized form the customs districts 
from which canned salmon "was exported for the years 1900 to 1915, 
inclusive, and in detailed form for the years 1916 to 1919, inclusive. 
Up to 1910 about two-thirds of the total exports have gone from the 
port of San Francisco, while about one-fifth of the total passed through 
the port of Pu^t Sound, Wash. In 1910 the exports from Puget 
Sound exceeded those from San Francisco. In 1918, however, San 
Francisco assumed first place once more. The only other port 
through which any considerable quantity is shipped is New York 
City. It is usual now to' load the salmon on steamers and sailing 
vessels at San Francisco and the Puget Sound cities to go direct to 
Europe. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



193 



Exports, by Customs Districts, of Canned Salmon. 

SUMMARY, 1900 TO 1915.a 



Customs district 
from which ex- 
ported. 



Potmds. Value 



1901 



Pounds. Value 



Pounds. Value. 



Pounds. Value 



Atlantic ports. . . . 

Gulf ports 

Mexican border 
ports 

Pacific ports 

Northern border 
and Lake ports. 



3,820,656 

38, 868 

30,264 
23, 168, 445 

24, 137 



$370,302 
3,430 

2,861 
2,314,541 

2,514 



8,834,322 
55,425 

20, 140 
32,337,112 

42,501 



$947,729 
5,426 

2,082 
3, 270, 524 

4,510 



4,538,073 
50,116 

188,346 
42, 357, 217 

39,362 



$427,335 
4,965 

15, 498 
3, 539, 231 

4,373 



5,734,469 
54,016 

130,363 
44,391,379 

43, 107 



$611,868 
5,085 

11,741 
3,716,926 

5,171 



Customs district from which 
exported. 



Pounds. 



Atlantic ports 

Gulf ports 

Mexican border ports 

Pacific ports 

Northern border and Lake 
ports 



2, 133, 121 

72, 792 

355,248 

53,362,492 

625 



Vahie. 



$214, 332 

6,455 

24,183 

4,979,565 

63 



Pounds. 



2,693,503 

97,561 

289,439 

31,957,252 

28,800 



1906 



Value. Pounds. 



$267, 263 

8, 425 

23, 148 

2, 734, 209 

2,364 



3,277,571 

127, 2.55 

455,413 

41,906,406 

177, 769 



Value. 



$318,321 

10, 910 

36, 130 

3,469,472 

13, 110 



Customs district from which 
exported. 



1907 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Atlantic ports 

Gulf ports 

Mexican border ports 

Pacific ports 

Northern border and Lake 
ports 



2,314,535 

165,050 

570, 343 

22,160,349 

7,828 



$227, 779 

14,450 

47, 776 

1,892,398 

646 



2, 334, 663 

206, 120 

723,689 

24, 961, 173 

400 



$227,113 

19,245 

65,119 

2, 126, 995 

46 



4,043,807 

107,018 

219, 128 

31,705,144 

42,012 



$409, 933 

8,954 

21,574 

2,971,984 

3,991 



Customs district from which 
exported. 



Pounds. 



Atlantic ports 3,003, 430 

Gulf ports 118, 559 

254,717 

60,450,190 



Mexican border ports 

Pacific ports 

Northern border and Lake 
ports 



33,800 



Value. 



306, 122 

9,554 

21,503 

5,974,196 

2,883 



1911 



Pounds. 



1,564,485 

159, 359 

213,226 

36, 663, 729 



Value. 



$166,971 

15,194 

20,393 

3,834,584 



1912 



Pounds. 



2, 50(1, 989 

109, 045 

415, 259 

40,391,058 

1,405 



Value. 



$257,792 

12,029 

38, 455 

4,312,116 

171 



Customs district from which 
exported. 



New York 

New Orleans 

El Paso 

San Francisco 

Oregon 

Washington 

All other districts . 



Pounds. 



1,935,881 $189, 



Value 



31,687,774 

624,000 

19, 827, 745 

1, 215, 566 



3,277,841 

83,000 

1,434,451 

118,089 



1915 



Pounds. 



2,404,220 
182,717 
120, 140 

38,844,912 
124,512 

45, 876, 703 
197,716 



Value. 



Pounds. 



$207, 924 
19, 787 
9, 045 
3, 600, 636 
9,391 
4,138,449 
14,061 



5,316,456 
261,709 
176,390 

35,321,058 
671,452 

41,064,868 
634, 183 



Value. 



$512,549 
28, 682 
12. .348 

4,209,914 
64, 517 

4,183,410 
60,663 



o Detailed statistics for 1900 to 1915, inclusive, may bo found in " Pacific Salmon Fisheries," by ,Iohn N. 
Cobb, Appendix III, Report U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1916, pp. 194-198. Washington, i917. 



11312°— 21- 



-13 



194 



U. S. BUKEAU OF FISHERIES. 



Exports, by Customs Districts, op Canned Salmon — Continued. 

DETAILS, 1916 TO 1918. 



Customs district from which 
exported. 



1916 



Value. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Pounds. 



Value. 



Georgia 

Maineand New Hampshire. 

Maryland 

Massachusetts 

New York 

Philadelphia 

Porto Rico 

Virginia 

Florida 

Galveston 

Mobile 

New ( rleans 

Sabine 

Arizona 

Eagle Pass 

El Paso 

San Antonio 

Laredo 

Alaska 

Hawaii 

Oregon 

San Francisco 

Southern California 

Washington 

Buffalo 

Dakota 

Duluth and Superior 

Michigan 

Montana and Idaho 

St. Lawrence 

Vermont 



Total. 



2, 5S3, 306 

517, W)0 

1,314,778 

24,257,388 

111,578 

9,813 

2,589,040 

4,252 

3,211 

7,635 

1, 125, 031 

4,s;67 

134, 358 

^ 37,922 

117,715 



S274, 432 

47,603 

130, 701 

3,339,629 

8,680 

578 

211,848 

350 

159 

851 

109, 238 

428 

10, 263 

3,496 

8,876 



156, 000 

1,186,871 

1,884,672 

2,447,156 

23,993,032 

2,445,373 

3,060 

5,969,268 

9,971 

30,096 

7,055 

8,003,488 

8,244 

170, 372 

95,077 

190,331 



252, 826 

87,371 

78 

657, 121 

53, 221, 608 

33, 455 

60,520,904 

850 



16, 637 

6,319 

15 

60,257 

5,845,811 

2,463 

5,461,097 

107 



1,949,086 
3,3S9,969 



207,808 
283, 727 



12, 000 



1,124 



367, 324 

3,09-4,290 

137,328 

303, 888 

32,390,693 

35, 133 

30,549,747 

5,437 

66, 825 

171 

3,354,350 

987,925 

100 

63,530 



.?37, 052 

160, 399 

16S, 537 

279, 184 

2,607,602 

237,540 

384 

551, 269 

672 

3,467 

686 

967,410 

1,233 

15, 005 

7,783 

15,878 



33, 159 

267, 489 

13,959 

36,105 

3,910,592 

3,758 

3,034,487 

T22 

6,906 

39 

427, 810 

166, 323 

28 

8,957 



1.52,943,962 



15,032,497 



117,962,807 12,963,425 



96 

3,336 

1, 208, 142 

789, 629 

49,034,077 

302, 740 

6,106 

489, 242 

7,262 

16, 457, 201 

6,505 

1,720,839 

5,411 

97,046 



105,630 
401,640 



5,396,783 
56,044 



18,278,622 

30, 009 

13,783,070 

250 

2,630 

15 

1,814,899 

1,248 

61,990 

18 



$24 

621 

149,080 

159, 052 

7,690,025 

40,431 

839 

82,563 

1,623 

2, 124, 530 

838 

223, 676 

1,325 

12, 228 



12,547 
47,445 



691,897 
8,198 



3,153,508 

4,327 

1,874,726 

25 

437 

1 

284, 746 

5, on 

2 



110,060,480 



16,570,834 



In 1918 was inaugurated the practice of publishing customs figures 
for calendar years instead of, as previously, for the fiscal year ending 
June 30. The following tables show the exports of canned salmon by 
customs districts for the calendar years 1918 and 1919: 

Exports, by Customs Districts, of Canned Salmon, Calendar Years 1918 

AND 1919. 



Customs district from which exported. 


1918 


1919 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 




99 

96 

1, 70.';, 877 

517, 456 

46, 490, 264 

305, 414 

1,711 

303,650 


$25 

24 

220,669 

84,118 

7, 500, 562 

42,261 

394 

44,586 








130, 994 

2, 385, 585 

331, 296 

85, 463, 019 

2, 593, 197 

7, 458 

1, 203, 496 

171,653 

11, 156, 255 

1,654,115 

10, 060, 979 

16, 439 

118, 946 

320, 836 

855, 588 

1, 594, 476 

49, 232 

244, 600 


$27, 831 




411, 895 




58, 267 




13, 977, 432 




322, 858 




1,262 




211, 701 




20, 673 




15, 169, 801 

3, 567, 735 

542, 161 

3,033 

30,063 

21,290 

46,914 

72 

48, 428 


i, 942, 094 

482, 945 

80, 586 

833 

4,319 

2,891 

7,373 

12 

7,052 


1, 357, 799 


Mobile 


219, 879 




1, 613, 503 




3,354 




17, 726 


El Paso 


41, 491 




116,612 




188,038 




7,718 


Oregon 


56,680 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



195 



Exports, by Customs Districts, of Canned Salmon, Calendar Years 1918 

AND 1919 — Continued. 



Customs district from which exported. 


1918 


1919 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


San Francisco 


4, 490, 375 

34, 045 

16, 422, 108 

501 

2,541 


$749, 095 

5,159 

1, 764, 105 

75 

437 


19, 596, 548 

125, 793 

27,911,740 

863, 795 

90,206 

13,460 

1, 057, 458 

1, 527, 576 

163, 063 

42,869 


$4, 359, 338 
21, 856 




Washington 


4, 930, 335 
140, 568 


Buffalo 


Dakota 


19,841 

2,996 

199, 096 

281, 707 


Duluth and Superior 




1, 345, 300 


200,873 


Montana and Idaho 


St. Lawrence 


52,800 


8,819 


26 108 


Vermont 


8,144 










Total 


91, 101, 734 


13, 149, 307 


169, 750, 672 


28, 644, 706 





EXPORTS OF DOMESTIC FRESH AND CURED SALMON. 

The following table shows in summarized form the value of the 
exports of fresh and cured salmon, by countries to which exported, 
for the period 1900 to 1915, inclusive, and in detailed form for the 
years 1916 to 1919, inclusive. As with the canned salmon, the 
greater part of these exports go to European countries, Germany, 
under ordinary conditions, taking by far the largest quantity. A 
small portion of this is salmon caught in Atlantic waters. 

Exports, by Countries Receivinq, op Domestic Pickled, Fresh, etc., Salmon. 

summary, fiscal years 1900 TO 1915.a 



Country receivinR. 


1900 


1901 


1902 


1903 


1904 


1905 




$340,643 

87,964 

1,702 

3,324 

101,388 

255 


$344,368 

60,416 

901 

15,037 

5,982 

24 


$496, 637 

132, 704 

3,063 

25,843 

35, 863 

325 


$760, 197 

67, 225 

1,690 

5,393 

34,835 

12 


$1,094,9.'^0 

36, 408 

1,822 

1,382 

28,063 

864 




North America 


25 809 




3,438 
30 170 


Asia .' 


Oceania 




Africa 


114 




Coimtry receiving 


1906 


1907 


1908 


1909 


1910 




$1,776,086 

36,943 

2,600 

92,861 

18,914 

60 


$1, 794, 885 
23, 204 
2,351 
19,384 
38,721 
198 


$1,587,535 

27,263 

517 

3,962 

28, 767 


$1,225,948 

28,383 

1,365 

3,640 

28,935 

289 


$1,468,015 
"^9 688 


North America 


South America 


5 242 


Asia 


348 


Oceania 




A frica 


1 268 








Country receiving. 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


1915 


Europe 


$1,511,184 

24, 880 

384 

3,933 

32,334 

424 


$1,587,973 

20,350 

142 

107 

21,575 

4 


$2,055,109 

34, 741 

3,409 

1,398 

25,699 

2,210 


$2,074,499 

86,087 

933 

2,428 

31,330 

32 


$1 375 123 


North America 


20^336 


South America 


Asia 


1 362 


Oceania 


27 420 


Africa 









a Detailed statistics for 1900 to 1915, inclusive, may be found in " Pacific Salmon Fisheries," by John N 
Cobb, Appendix III, Report, U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1910, pp. 198-201. Washington, 1917 



196 



U. S. BUEEAU or FISHERIES. 



Exports, by Countries Receiving, op Domestic Pickled, Fresh, etc., Salmon — 

Continued. 

DETAILS, FISCAL YEARS 1916 TO 1918. 



Country receiving. 



Denmark 

France 

Greece 

Iceland, and Faroe Islands. . 

Italy 

Netherlands 

Norway 

Spain 

Sweden 

United Kingdom— England. 



NORTH AMERICA. 



Bermuda 

British Honduras 

Canada 

Central American States: 

Costa Rica 

Guatemala 

Honduras 

Nicaragua 

Panama 

Salvador 

Mexico 

Newfoundland and Labrador. . 
West Indies: 

British- 
Barbados 

Jamaica 

Trinidad and Tobago. 
Other British 

Cuba 

Danish 

Dominican Republic 

Dutch 

French 

Haiti 



SOUTU AMERICA. 



Argentina. 

Bolivia 

Brazil 

Chile. 



Colombia... 
Ecuador . . . 
Guiana: 

British. 

Dutch.. 

French. 

Peru 

Uruguay... 
Venezuela.. 



China 

China, leased territory— Japanese. 

Chosen 

East Indies: 
British- 
British India 

Straits Settlements 

Other British 

Dutch 

French 

Hongkong 

Japan 

Russia in Asia 



British: 

Australia 

New Zealand... 

Other British.. 

French 

German 

Philippine Islands . 



1916 



$193, 124 
2 

2,898 
365 



10,961 
194,868 
316 
145, 613 
147,955 



115 

12,872 

169 

75 

149 

249 

6,364 

117 

9,909 

15 



944 

3,689 

102 

1,352 

6,563 

257 

967 

574 

61 

525 



111 

87 
424 
735 
,164 
263 

940 
380 
407 
929 
95 



1917 



102 

9 

1,735 



43 
22 
243 



31,815 

81 

61 

1,285 

442 

252 



$33, 874 



1,844 

237 

6,418 

4,614 

134, 676 



27,346 
155,089 



1,002 

1 

79,676 

14 

61 
112 

97 
2,973 

76 
3,388 



564 

806 
1,635 

801 
2,274 

902 
1,875 

382 
65 

435 



140 
129 
.537 

39 
435 

45 

*58 
817 
230 
742 



779 



111 

100 



21,058 

23 

86 

1,039 

1,062 

1,071 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



197 



Exports, by Countries Receiving, of Domestic Pickled, Fresh, etc., Salmon — 

Continued. 

DETAILS, FISCAL YEARS 1916 TO 1918^Continued. 



Country receiving. 


1916 


;i917 


1918 


British Africa: 

West 


AFRICA. 




$376 

877 

1,140 

479 


$152 


South 


A 


$1,642 

87 




( nnfjry UlaT^fls 




Etcvpt 




Liberia 


6 

1,251 

701 






47 




Spanish Africa - - 












Total 


790, 198 


492,879 


205 446 




RECAPITULATION. 




Europe 


696,102 

45,756 

8,533 

2,184 

33,936 

3,687 


364,098 

97,139 

4,051 

333 

24,339 

2,919 


134 657 




66,089 




1 692 




895 




1 961 




152 







DOMESTIC PICKLED SALMON, CALENDAR YEARS 1918 AND 1919.a 



Country receiving. 


1918 


1919 


Barrels.'' 


Value. 


Barrels. ^ 


Value, 


EUROPE. 

Azores, and Madeira Islands 






2 

1 

10,0-14 

2,307 

109 

270 

2,514 

1 

2,178 

2,210 
101 

37 

1 

272 

3 
5 


$62 


Belgium 






35 


Denmark 






466, 359 


Germany 






41,538 








3,879 


Netherlands . . 






15 995 


Norway 1 




123, 069 


Spain 




29 








105, 010 


United Kingdom: 

England 


419 


$17,800 


124, 152 


Scotland 


2,830 


NORTH AMERICA. 

Bermuda 






662 


British Honduras '. -- 




20 


Canada 


66 


1,300 


5,031 


Central American States: 

Costa Rica 


66 


Guatemala 


5 
1 


138 
6 


199 


Honduras 




Nicaragua 


3 

28 
2 

301 
18 

659 

9 

31 


59 


Panama 


31 
5 

7 
1 
6 
3 
17 
18 
54 
2 
2 
24 


8i7 
104 

176 
17 

115 
59 

452 

350 

1,180 

20 

46 

497 


846 




30 


West Indies: 
British- 
Barbados 


11,380 


Jamaica 


390 


Trinidad and Tobago 


18,148 


Other British 


243 


Cuba 


1,008 


Danish 


Dominican Republic 


3.5 
13 
19 
20 
20 


1,004 


Dutch 


213 


French 


547 


Haiti 


652 


Virgin Islands of United States 


464 



o Included ia "All others" in previous years. 



b Barrel holds 200 pounds of fish. 



198 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Exports, by Countries Receiving, of Domestic Pickled, Fresh, etc., Salmon — 

Continued. 

DOMESTIC PICKLED SALMON, CALENDAR YEARS 1918 AND WW— Continued. 



Country receiving. 


1918 

• 


1919 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


SOUTH AMERICA. 

Colombia 


1 

14 
15 
35 


$20 

369 
386 
865 


2 

10 

101 

35 

3 

1 

3 
93 

736 


136 


Guiana: 

British 


270 


Dutch 


2,726 
1 186 


French 


Peru 


72 


Venezuela 


2 
9 


42 
210 


50 


ASIA. 

China 


86 


Japan 


1,864 
16,292 


OCEANIA. 

British: 

Australia 




1,058 
1 
2 

44 
75 
3 


23,704 

28 

35 

937 

1,645 

63 


New Zealand 




Other British 


3 
29 
19 


70 


French 


692 




413 


Philippine Islands 




AFRICA. 

British South Africa 


1 
7 


32 


Liberia 


■ 2 


20 


69 








1,922 


51,401 


22,256 


947, 694 






419 

242 

67 

9 

1,183 

2 


17,800 

5, 277 

1,682 

210 

26, 412 

20 


19,737 

1,476 

152 

96 

787 

8 


882, 958 


Norm America 


40, 878 




4,340 


Asia 


1,950 




17,467 




101 







The following table gives a summary, by customs districts, of 
the exports of domestic fresh and cured salmon from 1900 to 1915, 
inclusive, and a detailed statement of the same for the years 1916 to 
1919, inclusive. The greater part of the shipments pass tlirough the 
New York City customs district. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



199 



Exports, by Customs Districts, op Domestic Pickled, Fresh, etc., Salmon, 
summary, fiscal years 1900 to 1915.o 



Custcms district from which exported. 



1901 



1904 



1906 



Atlantic p orts 

Gulf ports 

Mexican border p )rts 

Pacific ports 

Northern border and Lake ports. 



$346,924 



1,192 

185,644 

1,516 



$330,890 

5 

535 

92,698 

2,610 



$503, 439 

143 

1,857 

188,177 

819 



$767,397 

30 

1,227 

99,018 

1,680 



$1,103,034 
124 
1,160 
56, 167 
3,004 



$1,757,832 
159 
997 
66,772 
6,895 



Customs district from which 
exported. 



1906 



1907 



1908 



1909 



1910 



1911 



1912 



Atlantic ports 

GiiU ports , 

Mexican border ports 

Pacific ports 

Northern border and Lake ports 



$1,781,476 !$1,797,411 



14 

788 

139.606 

5,580 



276 

424 

73, 927 

6,705 



$1,590,778 
7,226 
167 
44,313 
5,560 



$1,230,542 
49 
25 
50,834 
7,110 



$1,479,656 
74 

202 
50,521 
2,187 



$1,514,599 

1,542 

18 

46,167 

10,813 



$1,586,319 



202 
33, 190 
10,440 



Customs district 
from which ex- 
ported. 


1913 


1914 


1915 


Customs district 
from which ex- 
ported. 


1913 


1914 


1915 


New York 


$2, 060, 068 

20, 995 

7,354 


$2,067,366 
16,932 
59,713 


$1,377,840 
6,630 
2,020 


San Francisco 

All other districts 


$26,a30 
8,119 


$29,880 
21,418 


$28,777 
9,592 


Puget Sound 





DETAILS, FISCAL YEARS 1916 TO 1918. 



Customs district from which exported. 


1916 


1917 


1918 




$16 

2,925 

732,782 

47 

60 

48 

610 

33 

1,736 


$22,480 

14,764 

360,348 

635 


$37 




32,002 




106,636 


Porto Rico 


57 


Florida 


210 


Mobile 


5 
166 


5 




■ 408 




950 




374 
454 

276 


501 






El Paso 




24 






1,123 




16 

5,203 

16 

33,648 

80 

1,155 

394 

706 

13 

8,845 


100 

29, 34S 

15 

23,804 

255 

4,779 

2,93!) 

2,233 

42 

12,695 

5,567 

7,167 

4,433 






14, 529 




7 




6,907 




191 




19,825 


Buffalo 


6,450 


Dakota 


1,942 




251 




11,910 




49 


St . Lawrence 


1,300 

565 


1,258 




174 






Total 


790, 198 


492,879 


205,446 







o A more detailed statement lor 1900 to 1912 may be foimd in " Pacific Salmon Fisheries," by John N. 
Cobb, Appendix III. Report U. S. Commissioner of Fisheries, 1916, pp. 202-203. Washington, 1917. 



200 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Exports, by Customs Disticts, of Domestic Pickled, Fresh, etc., Salmon — 

Continued. 

DOMESTIC PICKLED SALMON, CALENDAR YEARS 1918 AND 1919. 



Customs district from which exported. 


1918 


1919 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Barrels. 


Value. 


Maine and New Hampshire 






120 

2 

21,041 


$2,220 

05 


Massachusetts 






New York 


657 

1 


$23, 346 
23 


919,375 


Porto Rico 


Philadelphia 


44 

7 

4 

797 

2 

100 

125 


3,500 


New Orleans 


2 

40 

1,185 

3 

20 
6 
2 
3 


39 
770 
26, 443 
58 
458 
91 
60 
53 


163 


Alaska 


100 




17 724 


Southern California 


' 36 


Washington 


2 017 


Dakota 


2112 


Duluth and Superior 




Michigan 


4 
1 
9 


168 


Montana and Idaho 


34 


St. Lawrence 


3 


60 


180 


Total 


1,922 


51,401 


22,256 


947,694 



Exports, by Countries Receiving, of All Other Salmon, Calendar Year 1919. 



Country receiving. 


Value. 

$1,230 

75,095 

6,444 

200 

617 

43, 840 

16 

2,430 

251,730 

25 

421, 498 

96 

5 

21 

646 

26 

13, 884 

4,000 

lOS 

16 

15 

1,643 

52.^> 

110 

255 

38 


Coimtry receiving. 


Value. 


Belgium 


Virgin Islands of United States 


$241 


Denmark 


Bolivia 


2 


France 


Brazil 


2,194 


Iceland, and Faroe Islands 


Chile 


190 


Netherlands 


Colombia 


182 


Norway. 


Dutch Guiana . . . 


238 






135 


Sweden 


Peru 


10 






49 


Bermuda 


China 


286 






29 


rSiiatfiTnaln 


Other British East Indies. 


3 


Honduras 


Dutch East Indies 


749 


Nicaragua. ... 


French East Indies 


5 






6,214 


Salvador 


Russia in Asia 


67 


Mexico 


3 


Barbados 


AustraUa 


4,840 
134 


Jamaica 




Trinidad and Tobago 


German Oceania .... 


36 


Other British West Indie ; 




1,513 


Cuba 


British West Africa 


381 


Dominican RepubUc 




450 




Total 




French West Indies 


842,464 


Haiti 











Exports, by Customs Districts, of All Other Salmon, Calendar Year 1919. 



Customs district. 



Maine and New Hampshire 

Massachusetts 

New York 

Philadelphia 

Porto Rico 

Florida 

New Orleans 

Sabine 

Arizona 

El Paso 

San Antonio 

Alaska 

San PrancisQo 



Value. 



$72, 305 

18, 986 

218, 204 

44,625 

199 

4 

4,049 

29 

65 

5 

13, 365 

347, 068 

41, 046 



Customs district. 



Southern CaUfornia . 

Washington 

Buffalo 

Dakota 

Duluth and Superior 

Michigan 

Montana and Idaho . 

Ohio 

St. Lawrence 

Vermont 

Total , 



Value. 



$315 

13,861 

5,964 

4j250 

44 

13, 591 

12,283 

123 

29,252 

2,831 



842,464 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



201 



IMPORTS OF FRESH SALMON. 

For some years it was the custom of the canneries on Puget Scmnd, 
when fish were scarce on the American side and almndant on the 
Canadian side, to import fresh salmon to fill out the domestic supply 
and the Canadian canneries would do the same when the conditions 
were reversed. In 1904 the Canadian Government prohibited the 
export of fresh sockeye salmon to Puget Sound for pacKing purposes, 
and in 1910 an effort was made to have Congress retaliate by enacting 
a similar law for this side of the line, but the bill failed of passage. 

The table below shows the yearly imports of fresh salmon from 
British Columbia: 

Imports of Fresh Salmon from British Columbia, Canada, for a Series of 

Years. o 



Year. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Year. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Year. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


1890 


4,660 
4, 0.SO 
6, 28,s 
64,811 
3, 872 
14,000 
11,799 


S241 
170 
301 

3,639 
219 

1,403 
419 


1897 

1898 

1899 


93,454 
11, .580 
58,002 
19,404 
27, 072 
22, 353 
6,860 


$2,681 
278 

4,101 
855 

2,0.50 
739 
343 


1904 

1905 

1906 

1907 

1908 

1909 

1910 


40,610 

1,015 

3,4,'-)7,738 

113,224 

8,880 

41,073 

198,251 


$1,025 
35 


1891 


1892 


64,408 


1893 


1900 

1901 

1902 

1U03 


4,131 


1894 


795 


1895 


2,346 


1896 


10,116 









o After 1909 all imports of fresh salmon are listed imder "Fish, fresh." 

After 1911 the imports of fresh salmon from both coasts of Canada 
and from Newfoundland were lumped together, and are shown 
in the table below. Fully nine-tenths, if not more, of this salmon 
came from the Province of British Columbia in Canada, and the 
greater part of this was canned in the canneries on Puget Sound, 
Wash. 



Fiscal year 

ending 
June 30— 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Fiscal year 

ending 
June 30— 


Poimds. 


Value. 


Fiscal year 

ending 
June 30— 


Pounds. 


Value. 


1911 

1912 

1913 


1, 122, 286 
1,520,687 
2,089,781 


$114,123 
135,416 
180, 513 


1914 

1915 

1916 


3,262,828 
10,676,296 
24,026,481 


$245,791 
383, 697 
501, 115 


1917 

1918 

1919 


19, 769, 660 
14, 408, 294 
15,571,451 


8599,442 
957, 169 
928,552 



The following table shows, by customs districts, the imports of 
fresh salmon during the calendar year 1918: 

Imports, by Customs Districts, op Fresh Salmon, Calendar Year 1918. 



Customs district. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Customs district. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Maine and New Hampshire. 
Massachusetts 


449, 244 
4,965 
12,400 
4 500 


$82,721 

318 

3,536 

495 

421, 713 

2 




532,772 

18, 100 

247, 833 

336,306 


$56, 472 


Duluth and Superior 

St . Lawrence 


1,728 




26,918 




Vermont . 


37, 216 






Total 




Buffalo 2n 


13,085,998 


631,119 











During the calendar year 1919, imports of fresh salmon amounted 
to 752,480 pounds, valued at .S101,121, and during the calendar year 
1920, to 676,359 pounds, valued at $125,863. 



202 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 
IMPORTS OF CURED SALMON. 



Below are shown the imports into this country of foreign-cured 
salmon, the product of the Pacific salmon fisheries, from 1886 to 1909, 
inclusive. 

Imports of Foreign Pickled Pacific Salmon, 1886 to 1909.o 



Year. 


Britis 1 Columbia. 


Japan. 


Hongkong. 


Russia, Asiatic. 


Total. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Pounds. 


Value. 


1886 


5,600 

200 

86, 000 

18,200 

600 

200 

■ 5, 478 

149,410 

6, 550 

6,530 

6, 890 

4,145 

15,875 

162, 558 

165,243 

175,411 

161,549 

282,210 

282, 027 

35,475 

6,393 

13, 230 

30, 710 

111,645 


$224 

i 

4,031 

860 

36 

5 

291 

17,592 

250 

474 

156 

188 

1,554 

11,061 

11,225 

13,794 

11, 766 

23, 319 

25, 584 

1,730 

322 

631 

1,523 

5,505 














5,600 

200 

86, 000 

18, 200 

600 

200 

5,478 

162,485 

7,150 

6,530 

6,890 

14,045 

b 16, 032 

163, 158 

165,243 

176,017 

161,909 

283,610 

285,042 

40, 985 

7,073 

17,415 

34,247 


$224 


1887 














4 


1888 














4,031 


1889 














860 


1890 














36 


1891 














5 


1893 














291 


1894 


' 




1,200 
600 


$29 
13 


11,875 


$298 


17, 919 


1895 






263 


1896 










474 


1897 














156 


1898 






30 


2 


9,870 


266 


456 


1899 






b 1, 560 


1900 


600 


$41 










11,102 


1901 










11,225 


1902 


606 
360 
1,400 
3,015 
5,510 
680 
4,185 
3,537 


28 
18 
52 
133 
175 
31 
174 
148 










13,822 


1903 










11,774 


1904 










23,371 


1905 










25,717 


1906 










1,905 


1907 










353 


1908 










805 


1909..;.... 










1,617 


1910 































a After 1909 all imports of salmon, pickled or salted, are included under "All other cured or preserved." 
b Includes 157 potmds, valued at $6, from China. 

Since 1910 all imports of pickled salmon have been lumped together 
and it has been impossible to distinguish the imports of Pacific salmon 
from those imported from Atlantic districts. The table below shows 
the total imports, almost all of which comprise salmon from the 
Province of British Columbia in the Dominion of Canada. 



Fiscal 

year 

ending 

June 30— 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Fiscal 

year 

ending 

June 30— 


Pounds. 


Value. 


Fiscal 

year 

ending 

June 30— 


Pounds. 


Value. 


1911 

1912 

1913 


695, 878 
417, 938 
344, 530 


$62, 769 
33, 901 
28,650 


1914 

1915 

1916 


1,114,927 
1,162,341 
1,010,844 


$84,503 
104, 451 
70,837 


1917 

1918 

1919 


945, 394 
739, 759 
859,276 


$81,776 
74,042 
117,352 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 
EXPORTS OF CANADIAN CANNED SALMON. 

Exports of Canned Salmon from Canada, 1916-1919. 
[Fiscal year ended Mar. 31.] 



203 



Destination. 



1916 



1917 



1918 



1919 



Australia 

Barbados 

Bermuda 

Bolivia 

British Guiana 

British India 

British South Africa 

British West Indies 

Chile 

China 

Cuba 

Dutch East Indies 

Ecuador 

Fiji 

France 

French Oceania 

Greenland, Iceland, etc 

Hongkong 

Italy 

Jamaica 

Japan , 

Newfoundland 

New Zealand 

Other British East Indies.. 

Other British Oceania 

Other British West Indies. 

Panama 

Peru 

Russia in Europe , 

Siam , 

St. Pierre and Miquelon..., 

Straits Settlements 

Switzerland 

Trinidad and Tobago 

United Kingdom , 

United States 



Total. 



Pounds. 
4, 789, 094 



Pounds. 
3, 365, 149 



Pounds. 
2, 236, 742 



11,480 



298, 200 
52,800 
28, 643 



10,934 

9,600 

48 

101,344 



9,132 



11,976 
'343,"632" 



116, 112 

14, 400 

1,440 



2,400 
'48,' 238' 



319,344 



101 

'47,' 768 



928, 752 
3, 905, 461 



860, 400 

5,521,100 

14,400 



18,240, 



736,616 

13,529,569 

48,000 

200 

7,300 

3,109,694 



1,338,050 
""'91,056 



1,339,282 



120 
1,689,652 



105, 360 



4, 700 
21,600 



14,400 

2,394 

2, 064, 736 

192 



124,848 

1,351 

1,060,018 



1,809 
292, 800 



35,225,051 
18, 725 



34,772,879 21,117,314 
567, 758 893, 639 



49, 142, 882 



Pounds. 

3, 750, 194 

1,642 

25,884 

120, 000 

96 

55, 950 

48, 000 



614,016 

2, 540 

1,048,800 

28,800 

2,400 

354, 196 

2, 869, 658 



15, 550 

5,454,670 

576 

192 

48, 000 

1,623,496 

36.000 

12, 000 

8,646 



48, 600 

24, 096 

4,784 

412, 810 



240 

29, 265, 108 

1,936,753 



48,332,127 43,777,154 47,813,697 



SALMON CULTURE." 

The artificial culture of salmon on the Pacific coast has developed 
into a large and constantly expanding industry. The United States 
Bureau oi Fisheries operates a number of large and well-equipped 
hatcheries, while the State governments of California, Oregon, and 
"Washington, the Dominion of Canada and the Province of British 
Columbia, and certain private companies have built and mahitain 
a large number of hatcheries, some of these being among the largest 
in the world. 

OBTAINING THE SPAWNING FISH. 

The eggs used for artifical propagation are obtained from salmon 
taken on their way upstream to the natural spawning grounds. In 
order to arrest the ascent of the fish a rack is usually built across 
the stream. Where this is not feasible a trap is sometimes con- 
structed for the purpose of catching the fish. Sometimes the racks 
have slat traps attached in which some fish are caught. 

a Since this revision was completed there has appeared an excellent work on this subject, entitled "Arti- 
ficial Propagation of the Salmons of the Pacific Coast" revised and enlarged by llonry O'Malley. 
Appendix II, Report, U. S, Commissioner of Fisheries, 1919, 32 pp., 9 pis. Washington, 1920. 



204 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

A number of methods have been employed for taking the fish as 
they are grouped below the rack and seeking for an opening, but the 
most practicable has been found to be by moans of drag or haul 
seines swept across the area just below the rack. When the pocket 
or bunt is brought close to shore the workmen pick out the ripe fish 
and turn the others back to remain until they reach this stage. The 
ripe fish are placed in pens or live boxes made for this purpose, the 
males and females being kept separate. These live boxes are usually 
on the under side of a floating platform, and are accessible through 
hinged covers set in the plank flooring. Projecting beyond this 
platform is usually another, upon which the actual work of stripping 
the fish and caring for the pans is performed. 

At a few places where the fish are caught before they have reached 
the ripe stage, notably Karluk, the fish are placed in a pound or 
corral and held until they become ripe. This method is resorted 
to only in case of necessity. 

The surest sign of ripeness in a female is the separation of the eggs 
in the ovaries, but the experienced spawn taker can, from the general 
appearance of the fish, usjually tell whether she is ripe or not, according 
to Bower: •* 

An interesting experiment was conducted at the Afognak station last season [1910] 
to determine the degree of ripeness producing the best quality of eggs. The loss on 
the lot taken from females which were dead ripe — eggs flowing very freely — was less 
than 1 per cent, while with another lot, where the females were ordinarily ripe upon 
testing in the usual manner, the loss was about 5 per cent. This shows the need of 
caution in having fish fully ripe before stripping, if the highest degree of efficiency is 
to be expected. 

TAKING THE EGGS. 

As the eggs of the females confined in pens are likely to be injured 
within the fish, stripping is usually done every day. 

When ready for spawn taking, one man lifts a female from the live 
box by means of a small dip net, while another man lifts out a male 
in the same manner. They are held suspended in the net until 
their violent struggles are over, when it is easy to handle them. 

For many years, and even yet at many hatcheries, the method of 
taking salmon spawn has been by pressing the eggs out by steady 
downward pressure on the belly of the fish. The milt from the male 
is obtained in the same way. 

Where the force is large and the fish rather small the quickest 
way is for one to hold the fish in one hand and press out the eggs 
or milt with the other. Wlien the fish are large, or the working 
force is small, a strait-jacket is used. This is a sort of trough made 
about the average length of the salmon and hollowed out to fit its 
general shape. A permanent cleat is set across the lower end, while 
at the upper end is a strip with a buckle. The fish is slid into the 
trough, the tail going below the cleat, where it is securely held, and 
the head buckled in at the upper end with the strap. In this con- 
dition the fish is unable to do any harm by its struggles and the eggs 
can be pressed out at leisure. 

o Fish Culture in Alaska, by Ward T. Bower. In Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1911, by 
B. W. Evermann. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 766, p. 70. Washington, 1912. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 40.— STRIPPING SALMON WITH AID OF STRAIT JACKET. 




FIG. 41.— CHEHALIS HATCHERY, WASHINGTON FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, 
SHOWING RACKS TO PREVENT SALMON FROM GOING UPSTREAM, AND PEN FOR 
HOLDING SPAWNING FISH. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 205 

A more modern method in use atmany hatcheries, which has been 
well described by Mr. Bower," is as follows: 

The Ions:-follo\red process of taking Pacific salmon esjRS by hand expression has been 
superseded in the last few years by the method of incision, a method discovered and 
developed by the late Cloudsley Rutter in connection with his study of the life history 
of the salmon of the Sacramento River. This consists simply of makinp; a cut in the 
abdominal walls from the throat or near the pectoral fins to the vent, the fish just 
previously havini? been killed by a blow on the back of the head. When makina: the 
cut the knife is either shielded by a s;uard or is so held between the thumb and fore- 
finger as to allow not more than half an inch of the blade to project, thus precluding the 
possibility of injuring any of the eggs. Immediately follo%ving the incision the eggs 
flow in a mass into the spawning pan beneath. The operator's fingers are inserted 
into the abdominal ca\'ity gently to assist in remoAdng any eggs that may be enfolded 
in the organs or that may merely adhere to the walls of the cavity. Fertilization is 
accomplished in the usual manner. 

Care must be exercised not to tear loose from the ovaries any eggs that do not come 

freely when the organs are moved from side to side by the fingers. Eggs thus torn 

•loose are immature, and if taken it becomes necessary to eliminate them subsequently 

in the hatchery. It is preferable also to have the fish either in a Aertical position or 

with the head considerably higher than the tail, that gravity may assist the flow of eggs. 

It was at first thought necessary — and the practice still obtains at some stations — 
to bleed the fish either by cutting off the head or tail before making the incision. 
Experimentation, however, has conclusively demonstrated that no advantage results 
from this procedure, as the few drops of blood tliat may occasionally fall into a pan of 
eggs result in no harm. The extra labor involved in bleeding may therefore be 
dispensed vriih. entirely. 

When taken by the method of incision the eggs are of greatly improved quality; 
there is no straining or rupture of good eggs as is incAitably the result when heavy 
hand pressure is exerted: no unripe eggs are torn from the ovaries; and at the same 
time there is no waste of good eggs left enfolded in the organs, as is certain to be tlie 
case in stripping by hand. The improvement in ([uality is from 5 to 10 per cent and 
the saving in labor, too, is of noteworthy consideration. 

The taking of Pacific salmon eggs by incision marks so distinct an advance in fish 
culture that it is no longer permissible to continue the obsolete method of stripping 
by hand. 

FERTILIZING THE EGGS, b 

In impregnating the eggs the main object is to bring the milt and the eggs together 
as quickly as possible after they haA-e left the fish. By some persons a little water 
is considered desirable to give greater activity to the milt, but if left more than a 
minute in the water there is a decided loss of fertilizing power. The eggs do not 
suffer so quickly from immersion in water. The absorbing property which they 
possess when they first leaA'e the parent fish, and which attracts to the micropyle the 
spermatozoa, lasts several minutes, but it is not prudent to leave the eggs in the water 
a moment longer than is necessary before adding the milt. 

The addition of the water is not essential to a good impregnation: in some instances 
better results are secured without the use of water and, after all, if the main object 
is secured, of bringing the milt and the eggs together with the slightest possible delay 
after they leave the fish, it makes very little difference whether water is used or not. 
The milt retains its fertilizing power several davs when kept from air and water, and 
impregnation can be effected between fishes widely separated by merely forwarding 
the milt properly sealed. At Baird impregnation by the dry method, which has 
always been followed there, has resulted in the fertilization of about 90 per cent of the 
eggs so treated . 

The Russian or dry method of impregnating eggs consists simply in taking both the 
eggs and the milt in a moist pan. It may be urged as an objection to this method 
that the eggs mil be injured by striking against the pan, but it is a fact that although 
the same eggs would be destroyed by the concussion a week later, or even 24 hours 
later, they do not suffer in the least from it at the moment of extrusion from the fish. 

It was at one time considered an important question whether the eggs or milt should 
be taken first, but with the dry method it makes no difference, as, either way, both 
eggs and milt remain operati\e long enough for all practical purposes of impregnation. 

1 Fish CuUnre in Alaska, bv Ward T. Hower. In Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1911, by 
B. W. Eve.rmann. U. S. Hurrau of Fislierios Document No. TfiO, j>p. so, SI. Washington, 1912. 

b A Manual of Fish-culture, Based on the Methods of the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 
revised edition, pp. 10-12. Washington, 1900. 



206 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Various methods of treating the eggs in the pan after impregnation has taken place 
have been tried. Some operators leave the eggs in the pans as first taken with the 
milt for two or three minutes and then add water, after which they are left to stand 
in the pan until they separate, when they are washed clean, taken to the hatching 
house, and placed in the troughs. Others pour the contents of the several pans— 
egge, milt, and all — into a large can after the eggs become impregnated, and when the 
eggs separate the contents of the can are poured into the hatching troughs, trusting 
to the current in the troughs to wash the milt from the eggs. At Baird water is poured 
on the eggs a few moments after they become impregnated, after which they are left 
perfectly quiet until they separate, which, in water of the temperature of the McCloud 
River in September, 52° to 53°, takes about an hour. The pans, in the meanwhile, 
are put in a trough filled with river water to keep them from becoming too warm. 
After the eggs separate they are carefully washed and are carried in buckets to the 
hatching house, where they are measured and placed in the hatching trays. 

Mr. Bower '^ has the following to say as to the loss by concussion 
and the proper method of preventing same : 

Coincident with the absorptive period in salmon eggs is an adhesive stage varying^ 
with the temperature from one to two hours, when the eggs are exceedingly sensitive. 
This is the so-called period of water hardening. Under no circumstances should the 
eggs be handled during this stage, nor should they be subjected to the slightest con- 
cussion. Repeated tests h^,ve demonstrated conclusively that even allowing the 
buckets containing the eggs to stand on the same platform where ipawning operations 
are being carfied on results in considerable loss. 

To guard against this, the buckets should either stand on the bottom of the stream 
or else on a platform in every way independent of and having absolutely no connec- 
tion with the main platform. To some this may seem like a small and irrelevant 
consideration, but strict observance is certain to reduce the loss by at least 2 or 3 per 
cent. During the process of water hardening the buckets should be partly submerged 
to properly regulate the temperature. 

Due caution must be observed not to move the eggs until water hardening is com- 
plete. After a little experience the operator can readily tell, upon carefully inserting 
the hand and finding the eggs free and hard and no longer soft and velvety, even 
toward the bottom of the bucket, that they may be moved to the hatchery without 
fear of loss. 

HATCHING APPARATUS AND METHODS.?) 

The hatching apparatus generally employed on this coast is pretty 
much of the same pattern and is described as follows i'^ 

The hatching apparatus generally employed on the Pacific coast in salmon propaga- 
tion consists of a combination of troughs and baskets. The troughs in common use are 
the so-called "Williamson troughs," which are IG feet long, 12 or 16 inches ■svide, and 
6^ inches deep. The troughs are arranged in pairs, and usually two or three pairs 
are placed end to end on different levels. The fall of water in each trough is li 
inches. The troughs are di\dded by double partitions of wood or metal into com- 
partments just enough longer than the baskets to enable the latter to be raised and 
lowered and to be tilted slightly. The essential feature of these troughs is that at 
the lower end of each compartment a partition, extending entirely across the trough, 
reaches from the bottom almost to the top, and another similar partition at the upper 
end of the compartment reaches from the top almost to the bottom of the trough, 
each set of partitions being about an inch apart. The water is consequently forced 
to flow under the upper partition and over the lower partition, and to do this it must 
necessarily ascend through the tray of eggs. The troughs are provided with canvas 
covers stretched upon light frames and made sunlight proof by saturation with 
asphaltum varnish, and their interiors are thickly coated with asphaltum. 

The egg receptacles are %vire trays or baskets about 12 inches wide, 24 inches long, 
and deep enough to project an inch or two above the water, which is 5 or 6 inches 
deep in the troughs in which they are placed. Into each of these baskets 2 gallons 
of salmon eggs, equivalent to about 30,000, are poured at a time. The eggs suffer no 

c Fish Culture in Alaska, by Ward T. Bower. In Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1911, by 
B. W. Evermann. U. S. Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 766, pp. 81, 82. Washington, 1912. 

b At some of the Alaska hatcheries quite large baskets, some holding as many as 103,000 red salmon eggs 
are used. 

c A Manual of Fish-culture, Based on the Methods of the U. S. Commission of Fish and Fisheries, 
revised edition, pp. 12, 13. "Washington, 1900. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 207 

injury whatever from bning packed together in tliis manner, the water being Bupplied 
in a way that forces it through the eggs, partially supporting and circulating through 
them. The meshes are too small to permit the eggs to pass through, although the fry 
are able to do so. 
The advantages of this apparatus and method are: 

(1) The top of the tray or basket is out of the water and always entirely dry; con- 
sequently in handling it the hands are kept dry. 

(2) By tilting one end of the tray up or down a little or by lifting it entirely and 
settling it gently back again in its place the bad eggs uill be forced to the top; thus a 
feather is not re(|uired in picking over the eggs and the injuries very often inllicted 
with it are avoided. 

(3) The top of the tray being above water, the eggs can never run over the top nor 
escape in any way, which is a great advantage o\er the shallow form of tray. 

(4) There is economy of space; 30,000 to 40,000 eggs can be placed in each basket, 
provided a sufficient quantity of water is available. Two troughs 16 feet long and 1 
loot wide will by this method carry about 500,000 salmon eggs. The deep trays may 
be filled at least half full of eggs, and thus 10 times as many eggs can be hatched in 
the same space and with the same supply of water as by the old method. A good but 
gentle circulation is continually maintained through the eggs. 

(5) The deep-tray system is admirably adapted to getting rid of mud that has col- 
lected on the eggs, for all sediment accumulating about them can be easily removed 
by gently moving the tray up and down a few times in the water ; but if the deposit of 
mud on the troughs becomes so excessive as to be unmanageable, a false bottom of 
wire cloth or perforated zinc can be placed in the troughs at a suitable distance above 
their real bottom, leaving a space of about 1 or 1^ inches between the wire cloth and 
the trough bottom. By this means the mud that comes into the trough will sift down 
into the space below the wire cloth entirely out of the way of the fish, the movementa 
of the fish themselves helping very much to produce this result. Should the accu- 
mulation of mud in the space below the false bottom of the trough become too great, 
it can easily be sluiced out in various ways. 

When quinnat salmon eggs are simply to be matured for shipment, hatching trays 
with one-fourth or one-fifth inch square mesh will answer the purpose, but when the 
eggs are to be hatched in them, every alternate strand of wire running leugthM-ise, 
or, better still, every second and third thread, should be left out in order to form an 
oblong mesh through which the newly hatched fry, after separating themselves from 
the unhatched eggs, can escape from the hatching trays into the trough below. 

At Baird eggs kept in water averaging about 54° F. hatch in 35 days. The allowance 
of 5 days' difference in the time of hatching for each degree of change in the water 
temperature is approximately correct. 

For the first few days the eggs of the quinnat salmon are very hardy, and at this 
time they should be thoroughly picked over and the dead ones removed as far as 
possible before the delicate stage during the formation of the spinal column comes on, 
so that during that critical period they may be left in perfect quiet. As soon as the 
spinal column and the head show plainly, the eggs are hardy enough to ship, but when 
there is time enough it is l)etter to wait a day or two until the eye-spot is distinctly 
visible, after which time the eggs will stand handling and may be safely shipped if 
properly packed. 

HANDLING EGGS IN HATCHERY.a 

At some of the Bureau's stations where salmon eggs are handled it was the custom 
until a few years ago to "bury " the eggs or leave them undisturbed (aside from picking 
once the day after spawning ) for two or three weeks after putting them in the baskets. 
The result was that they were in some instances literally buried under and in such a 
mass of mud and sediment that many eggs were killed. Discontinuance of the prac- 
tice resulted in a very appreciable improvement. 

When the water is so turbid as to cause a heavy deposit of sediment, it is better to 
go over the eggs occasionally, even through the critical stages of development, or 
until the line of the lish is well formed. Of course the eggs must be handled with 
utmost caution at all times, but owing to their extreme sensitiveness during the two 
or three days following the closing of the blastopore and until a perceptible curve 
shows in the tail, they should be left entirely untouched. It soon becomes easy to 
determine the stage of an egg's development by holding it up to the light between the 
thumb and foreiinger. In the absence of cautious and skilled operatives and unless 
the water is roily for an extended period, it is undoubtedly better to let the eggs 

a Fish Culture in Alaska, bv Ward T. Bower. In Alaska Fisheries and Fur Industries in 1911. U.S. 
Bureau of Fisheries Document No. 766, pp. 81, S2. Washington, 1912. 



208 U. S. BUEEAU OF FISHERIES. 

remain undisturbed until the curvature of the tail is visible to the unaided eye. 
The accumulation of a moderate coating of sediment which readily washes off is not 
injurious. In a few instances it has become necessary to handle the eggs during the 
tender stage to arrest the spread of fungus, but where the water supph^ is reasonably 
well adapted to fish-cultural purposes such a course is rarely if ever necessary. 

REMOVAL OF DEAD EGGS BY THE USE OF SALT SOLUTION. 

Among the most noteworthy advances in the fish-cultural methods during the last 
few years has been the use of salt as an aid in the removal of dead eggs. The develop- 
ment of this process has extended over a period of several years, but it is more during 
the last year or so through the efforts of L E. Baldridge, of the Yes Bay station, that it 
has reached a high degree of efficiency. 

Compared Math the time-honored process of picking by hand, there are marked 
advantages in using the salt solution, and chief among these is the great saving of labor. 
It is estimated that if the eggs happen to be of not more than mediocre quality it 
would take at least 20 pickers to remove as many dead eggs as could two men using the 
salt solution. Moreover, the operation is much more thoroughly performed in the 
latter process than is possible in picking by hand. 

Another advantage of using the solution is that it is possible thoroughly to clean 
the eggs. This greatly reduces any loss through contamination and infection resulting 
from the decomposition and fungous growths which incAatably follow the long-con- 
tinued presence of dead eggs that in the hand-picking method frequently escape 
attention. Even when utmost care is taken to pick out all dead eggs, fungoused 
masses will occasionally appear. This condition is rarely observed when the salt 
solution has been used, and it undoubtedly means that in the aggregate many eggs 
are saved. Still another point in favor of the solution, it is generally believed, is that 
it acts as a tonic or stimulant to the good eggs while at the same time as a deterrent to 
the growth of fungus. Again, in picking by hand there is apt to be loss by move- 
ment of the eggs during delicate stages of development; and the oft-repeated insertion 
of egg tweezers, which are bound to touch other eggs, undoubtedly at times results 
in injury. 

Recent experience has demonstrated that the solution may be applied effectively 
to eggs freshly taken as well as those in more advanced stages of development. 

The principle of the salt bath is simply that the specific gravity of the good eggs is 
greater than that of the Ijad eggs, hence upon Ijeing placed in the salt solution the 
good eggs sink and the bad remain afloat and are easily removed. It is vitally essen- 
tial to the success of the undertaking that the solution be of the proper strength, and 
it is for this reason that the beginner is apt to become discouraged. If the solution is 
too weak all the eggs, both good and bad, will sink, while if it is too strong all will 
remain afloat. The margin of the proper density is so narrow that in the operation it 
is necessary every few minutes to strengthen the solution by adding more salt or brine, 
otherwise the small amount of fresh water which adheres to a basket of eggs as it is 
lifted from the hatching trough into the solution will affect unfavorably the results 
when treating succeeding baskets. Experience and careful observation, however, 
will soon make it possible for the operator accurately to judge when to add a bit of the 
stock solution. It is a convenience, of course, to have a salinometer at hand when 
preparing the solution. It is commonly the practice as an aid in preparing the solution 
to test it occasionally with a few eggs. 

Highly successful results in using the solution with red salmon eggs have been 
attained at the Yes Bay station, and a detailed description is accordingly given of the 
methods pursued at that place. 

The chief item of equipment consists of a water-tight wooden tank 4 feet long, 2J feet 
wide, and 10 inches deep for holding the solution in which the eggs are immersed. 
Before each basket is immersed it is necessary that the surface of the solution be 
perfectly quiet, for any ripple or current will tend to disturb the buoyant effect of the 
solution upon the eggs. I'herefoTe it was found of great convenience last winter to 
use a floating frame made of half-inch material 6 inches wide fastened together verti- 
cally and at right angles, thus forming open squares about 6 inches either way. After 
each )')asket of eggs is lifted from the salt liath this frame is placed in the solution to 
stop all motion of the water, being pushed down until it is almost submerged and held 
firmly against the side of the tank for a few seconds. Upon being carefully withdrawn 
the solution is quiet and the next basket of eggs may be immersed without further 
delay. _ ' ■ 

Another piece of equipment is a feather fan with which gently to push the floating 
dead eggs away from over the submerged basketinto which the good eggs have settled. 
Unless the dead eggs are quickly moved they too will sink. A feather fan made by 



PACIFIC saIjMon fisheries. 209 

fastening eagle feathers to a thin strip 8 inches long by 1^, inches wide works much 
more satisfactorily for this purpose than a wing. An ordinary hand scaff net about 
12 by 14 inches in size for removing dead eggs from the tank, a dipper, and a bucket 
complete the outfit. Wood and metal surfaces in all equipment should be well 
coated with asphaltum or some similar preparation. 

At Yes Bay as soon as five or ten million eggs are far enough advanced to stand light 
concussion the baskets are lifted out of the troughs and the eggs are stirred thorouglily 
with the hand, which caiises practicallv all of the unfertile or empty eggs to turn wliite. 
As soon as the line of the fish shows plainly when held up to the liglit and there is a 
distinct curvature to the tail, the eggs are sufficiently well advanced in development 
to stand stirring. After this process the baskets are returned to the troughs and allowed 
to remain three days, for when first turned the unfertile eggs are about as heavy as the 
good eggs and consequently would sink if the salt solution were applied at once. 

On the fourth day after stirring, everything being in readiness, fiA^e or six baskets are 
removed from a trough and set on top to drain. After a few moments a basket is grasj^ed 
at each end and is lowered into the tank containing the solution until the liquid comes 
through the eggs. A light shake is then given to level up the eggs in the basket. Next, 
slowly and very gently, the basket is lowered until the brine comes almost to its rim 
and is held perfectly still for a moment. All the eggs in the basket will rise, but soon 
the good eggs will begin to sink, and presently, if it is a basket of poor eggs, the surface 
will be completely coA'ered with bad eggs. Now, without the slightest jar, the basket is 
lowered far enough below the surface to permit an egg to float over the rim. The ))ad 
eggs will immediately start toward the edges of the tank. After a few seconds the 
basket is gently lowered until it rests upon the bottom. The remaining dead eggs are 
then brushed away from over the basket by means of quick, short, and light strokes of 
the feather fan, long, sweeping strokes are to be carefully avoided. One end of the 
basket is then gently raised until it is above the surface of the brine and the basket 
is drawn toward the end of the tank and out from under the floating dead eggs. At 
the same time the fan is used with the other hand to aid in moving any of these floating 
eggs to one side. The fan is then dropped and the lower end of the basket is grasped 
and the whole is quickly raised out of the solution. The basket is set at an angle on 
the tank for a moment to drain and is then carried to the hatching trough. The 
attendant lifts out another basket to drain along with the four or five others orip:inally 
removed and returns to the tank of brine with the basket that has been draining the 
longest. 

While this is being done the other operator skims the dead eggs off the surface of the 
brine and places the frame described above in the tank for a moment to stop all motion 
of the solution. After five or six baskets have been treated, any eggs that have settled 
to the bottom of the tank are removed, as they absorb and weaken the brine. It is 
necessary, as earlier mentioned, to add a little fresh brine after handling each basket. 
The eggs should be as clean as possible, as the solution will not be effective when it 
contains much sediment. A l-mch hole with plug in one corner of the tank is con- 
venient for drawing off any deposit of this character. Should failure occur in treating 
a basket of eggs, as, for example, if by sudden jar they are all caused to sink, or if the 
brin e is too weak or too strong, the basket must be put back in the hatcliing trough, 
as it will not respond to treatment again the same day. 

At Yes Bay last winter a large portion of the 72,000,000 eggs were thoroughly cleaned 
up at one handling. Two men ran as many as 10,000,000 eggs through the salt bath in 
a single day. It is customary on the day after treating the eggs to have them gone OA'er 
80 that if any dead eggs remain they may be picked out by hand. This, however, 
requires very little time, as lint few dead eggs are found. No alarm need be felt if the 
eggs seem to shrink as a result of the immersion, for they will soon resume their normal 
siz e upon being replaced in fresh water. 

The use of the salt solution has been extended lately to the handling of lake trout 
eggs in Michigan and Minnesota, and there appears to be no reason why it is not equally 
well adapted to the eggs of other salmonoids. Certainly its many advantages com- 
mend further experimentation in this direction. 

The eggs of the salmon hatch very graduallj^ at first, only a small 
proportion comhig out the first day, but the number increases daily 
until the climax is reached, when large numbers of young burst 
their shells in a single day. As at this time the vast number of dis- 
carded shells are apt to clog up the guard screens at the outlets of 
the troughs, great care and vigilance is necessary to prevent this by 
thoroughly cleansing them frequently. 

11312°— 21— 14 



210 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

The hatched fish easily shp through the oblong mesh in the bottom 
of the trays mto the space below. They should be assisted in doing 
this by gently raising and lowering the tray at intervals, care being 
taken not to raise them out of the water. 

After they are all hatched out and in the bottom of the troughs, 
about the only danger to guard against is that of suffocation. They 
frequently crowd together in heaps and dig down under one another 
until some of them die for want of running water, which is less than 
an inch away from them. The best remedy is to thin them out. 

John Pease Babcock, Assistant to the Commissioner of Fisheries 
of the Province of British Columbia, in 1910 advanced a novel sug- 
gestion that freshly fertilized eggs buried immediately under sand and 
gravel would produce strong healthy fry at less cost than under exist- 
hig hatching methods, and that fry so produced are stronger and 
more capable of resisting the attacks of their active enemies. The 
interesthig account of his experiments is reproduced entire:'* 

In writing of the propagation of salmon and trout, some authorities state that con- 
siderable loss is occasioned in natural propagation by many of the eggs becoming 
eml>edded in sand and gravel; that all the eggs so embedded are lost. 

Observation and experiment in the propagation of Pacific salmon and trout for a 
considerable period lead me to advance the theory that in natural propagation only 
those eggs which become embedded beneath several inches of sand and gravel pro- 
duce alevins which live to attain the fry stage; and that those eggs which are not 
covered by several inches of sand and gravel are either consumed by active aquatic 
enemies or destroyed by vegetable molds, commonly termed "fungus." 

My experiments have demonstrated that the burial of freshly fertilized eggs of the 
nerka and other Pacific salmon does not smother them; that eggs so treated not only 
live but hatch ; and that if they are covered to a sufficient depth the alevins produced 
survive and possess the instinct and power to work their way gradually to the surface; 
that if buried beneath 5 or 6 inches of sand and gravel such eggs will hatch, and the 
young mil work their way up through the sand and gravel to the surface, and that by 
the time they emerge, have absorbed their sacs and are then exempt from the attacks 
of vegetable molds. 

Eggs buried under 1 or 2 inches of sand and gravel produce ale^dns that work their 
way up to the surface before the sac is absorbed, and upon reaching the surface are 
subject to attack by vegetable molds, and a very large percentage are thus destroyed, 
as well as by the more developed forms of aquatic life. 

Eggs buried to a depth of 3 inches produce alevins that work their way to the surface 
so gradually that by the time they reach the surface their sacs are so nearly absorbed 
that many, but not all, resist the effects of fungus. Alevins from eggs buried beneath 
less than 4 inches of sand are liable to reach the surface while the sac is so thinly 
covered that few, if any, survive the effects of fungous growth. 

The spawning beds of Pacific coast streams from California to Alaska (to which my 
observations have been confined), where the salmon spawn in numbers are, during 
and after the spawning period, covered with more or less vegetable molds. These 
molds are particularly common in the beds of streams where great numbers of salmon 
have spawned and died. Every experienced fish culturist knows that most waters 
carry great numbers of spores of fungi, and how difficult it is to prevent eggs and 
alevins from being attacked and injured by their growth. I believe that in natural 
propagation fungous growths destroy more salmon eggs and alevins than all other 
causes combined. The vegetable molds of Pacific streams are not active beneath 
the surface of the beds of streams. Salmon eggs cast therein, if even thinly covered 
with sand, are not injured by them. These molds do not affect the fry that have 
nearly or entirely absorbed their sacs, but they are deadly if permitted to attach 
themselves to either the eggs or the alevins. 

a Some Experiments in the Burial of Salmon Eggs— Suggesting a New Method of Hatching Salmon 'and 
Trout. By John Pease Babcock. Transactions, American Fisheries Society, 1910, pp. 393-395. Wash- 
ington, 1911. 

This method has been carried out on a considerable scale by A. Robertson, a Dominion of Canada 
hatchery superintendent located on the Eraser River, and the results published in "Hatching Salmon 
Fry in Gravel," Pacific Fisherman, Seattle, Wash., Vol. 17, No. 6, June, 1919, p. 38, illus. 



PACIFIC SALP.ION FISHERIES. 211 

My experimentB along this line load me to express the opinion that by the burial 
of freslily fertilized salmon eggs under 6 or 7 inches of sand and graxcl strong healthy 
fry can be produced at less cost than under existing hatching methods, and that fry 
so produced are stronger and more capable of resisting the attacks of their active 
enemies. 

I trust that this short statement of my experiments in the burial of salmon eggs 
may be deemed of sufficient economic importance to stimulate fish culturists generally 
in experimenting along similar lines. Those who do will perhaps experience some 
difficulty at first in the covering of a large number of eggs. Experimenters will find 
that after preparing suitable beds of sand and small gravel the eggs can be evenly laid 
and held until covered, if the surface of the bed is iirst thickly indented with cells a 
little deeper than the eggs. This can be readily accomplished by stamping the bed 
with a board covered with projections or pegs of suitable size. 

My experiments suggest that in the near future most of the buildings and hatching 
apparatus now used in the propagation of salmon and trout Mill be dispensed with; 
that after the eggs have been expressed and fertilized, instead of being placed in wire 
baskets in hatcheries, they will be buried beneath the sand and gravel of the beds of 
natural or prepared streams, and that with the exception of watchmen to protect 
them, little or no other labor will be required. 

FEEDING AND PLANTING THE FRY. 

For some time the fry remain at the bottom of the trough, but 
when the yolk sac is nearly absorbed they rise from the bottom and 
begin swimming. As a rule the fry are planted about the time the 
yolk sac is absorbed, thus obviating the necessity for feeding them. 
Some experts advise planting young red salmon when the umbilical 
sac is about two-thirds absorbed, which is the time when the fish 
begin to swim up freely. With the temperatures prevailing at the 
Alaska hatcheries, this means that the fry must be held at least four 
or five weeks after hatching. 

PACKING EGGS FOR SHIPMENT. 

In packing salmon eggs for shipment it is the custom at the Bureau 
of Fisheries' hatcheries to use a packing box made of one-half inch 
pine, 2 feet square and 1 foot deep.'* 

At the bottom is placed a thick layer of moss, then a layer of mosquito netting, then 
a layer of eggs, then mosquito netting again, then successive layers of moss, netting, 
eggs, netting, and so on to the middle of the box. Here a firm wooden partition is 
fastened in and the packing renewed above in the same manner as below. The cover 
is then laid on the top, and when two boxes are ready they are placed in a wooden 
crate, made large enough to allow a space of 3 inches on all sides of the boxes. This 
space is filled with hay to protect the eggs against changes of temperature, and, the 
cover being put on the eggs, they are ready to ship. In the middle of the crate an 
open space about 4 inches in depth is left, between the two boxes of eggs, for ice. 
As soon as the crates arrive at the railway station this space, as well as the top of the 
crate is filled in with ice. Recent experiments show that salmon eggs can be packed 
and safely transported to considerable distances when they are first taken. 

REARING SALMON FRY. 

For many years it was the custom to plant the fry as soon as they 
had absorbed, the yolk sac, a period of about 30 days. A few thou- 
sands were sometimes raised to the fingerling, yearling, or adult 
stage, more as a curiosity than anything else. No particular diffi- 
culty was experienced in raising these fish, but the expense entailed 
in feeding them for a prolonged period, and the impossibility of doing 
so unless large ponds were constructed at great expense for the piu*- 

" A Manual of Fi,sh-cultiire, Based on the Methods of the United States Commission of Fish and Fish- 
eries, revised edition, p. 14. Washjngtoo, 1917. 



212 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

pose of holding thorn during the feeding period, prevented the general 
adoption of the rearing system. 

For some years certain fish culturists and others had contended that 
the planting of fry just after they had absorbed the umbilical sac was 
an economic mistake, claiming that at this age they were weak and 
comparatively sluggish in their movements, and would fall easy prey 
to their numerous fish, bird, and other enemies. The late Robert D. 
Hume, who built and operated a hatchery on the lower Rogue River, 
also one on the upper Rogue River, which the United States Bureau 
of Fisheries operated for some years, was one of the first to take up 
the rearing of salmon fry on any scale. 

In time these objections bore weight, and a few years ago the con- 
struction of ponds in which fry could be held and fed until they had 
reached a size which would insure them at least an even chance for 
their lives was undertaken all along the coast except in British 
Columbia, with the result that to-day there is a pona capacity for 
about one-half of the total capacity of the various hatcheries. 

Most of the nursery ponds have been constructed near the hatch- 
eries and usually comprise oblong trenches dug in the earth and walled 
with cement and stone. 

In Oregon the State authorities found that the best results in pond 
rearing were obtained by using creek or natural ponds, which were 
made by placing dams across the small streams in the vicinity of the 
hatcheries. When first taken from the hatching troughs the fry are 
placed in the artificial ponds until the danger from spring freshets in 
the small streams is over. They are then transferred to the natural 
ponds, where the continual flow of fresh water, and the logs, rocks, 
etc., which provide shade and shelter, afford more natural conditions, 
and in which the natural food of the fry supplements the artificial 
food provided by man. 

A big advantage in connection with the use of natural ponds is the 
comparatively small expense involved in providing for them as com- 
pared with the large expense involved in the construction of cement 
ponds. 

The young fry show when they are ready to feed by dar ing to one 
side or the other when small particles of food are dropped in the water 
and float past them. For the first few weeks they should be fed 
regularly and as often as six times a day, and the earlier in the day 
the feeding begins and the later it continues at night the better. 
Two hours after feeding they will be found to be ravenously hungry, 
and as they grow much faster for frequent feeding great care should 
be taken to see that they are well fed. If not fed sufficiently they 
will bite at one another and cause more or less mortality among 
themselves. 

FOOD. 

In feeding salmon fry almost every conceivable food has been 
utilized. By universal consent liver is conceded to be the best food 
for the fry, as it can be ground finer than other foods and the blood 
which it contains is highly nutritious. At many places, however, it 
is impossible to secure liver, while its cost when available is generally 
prohibitive. 

The food used is generally that most available and which experi- 
ence has shown that the fry like and upon which they thrive. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



213 



In Oregon " it has been found that the extremely young fry thrived 
on a mixture of ground dried salmon and mush (composed of mid- 
dlings and other wheat products). Milk curds from near-by cream- 
eries also proved satisfactory. The older fish are fed on ground 
smelt, lampreys, spent salmon, both dried and salted, and offal from 
the canneries, some loose and some packed in 1 -gallon cans. An 
excellent food is broken-up ice-cream cones. This latter food also has 
the advantage of not sinking to the bottom and thus polluting the 
water; and because it floats at the surface the surplus can be lifted 
out with a dip net. 

SALMON SOLD AFTER STRIPPING. 

For many years it was the custom after the eggs had been stripped 
from the salmon to either give the carcasses to the Indians or to bury 
them. In 1917, under stress of the great demand for fish caused by 
the war, L. H. Darwin, fish and game commissioner of Washington, 
after an analysis by chemists had shown that the flesh was whole- 
some food, offered for sale, at a low rate, these spawned-out fish. 
The offer was accepted by several of the cities of the State, some of 
which established municipal markets at which these salmon, as well 
as other food products, were offered for sale at prices ruhng lower 
than those in the commercial markets. It is probable that the 
economic utilization of these salmon will be permanent, and will 
prove a source of considerable profit to the States which sell them. 

SALMON HATCHERIES ON THE PACIFIC COAST. 

Below is shown a list of the salmon and steelhead-trout hatcheries 
operated on the Pacific coast during the year 1919: 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Alaska: 

Afognak. 

Yes Bay. 
California: 

Baird. 

Battle Creek. 

Hornbrook. 

Mill Creek 
Oregon: 

Clackamas. 

Applegate. 

Snake River. 

Rogue River. 

Upper Clackamas. 
Washington: 

Baker Lake. 

Birdsview. 

Brinnon. 

Darrington. 

Duckabush. 

lUabott Creek. 

Quilcene. 

Big White Salmon. 

Little White Salmon. 



STATE OF CALIFORNIA. 

Sisson. 
Brookdale. 
Price Creek. 
XJkiah. 

STATE OF OREGON. 

Wallowa River. 

McKonzie River. 

Salmon River. 

Bonneville. 

Santiam River (eyeing station). 

Klaskanine. 

Willamette River (eyeing station). 

Eagle Creek. 

Snake River (Idaho). 

Tillamook. 

Yaquina. 

Siuslaw. 

Umpqua. 

South Coos. 

Coquille. 

Alsea. 

Rogue River. 



a Rearing and Feeding Salmon Fry in Oregon. By R. E. Clanton. Transactions, Pacific Fisheries 
Society, 1914, p. 91-94. aeattle, 1915. 



214 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



STATE OF WASHINGTON. 

Chambers Creek. 

Cliehalis. 

Ohehalis No. 2. 

Chinook. 

Dungeness. 

Ellwah. 

Green River. 

Green River No. 2. 

Nasel River. 

Nisqually. 

Nooksack. 

Nooksack River, Middle Fork. 

Nookriack River, South Fork. 

North River. 

Pilchuck. 

Puyalhip River. 

Samish. 

Skagit River. 

Skokomish. 

Skykomish. 

Snohomish. 

Stillaguamish. 

Kaiama. 

Lewis River. 

Pateros-Methow. 

Tahuya (eyeing station). 

Wenatchee. 

Tilton River. 

Wind River. 

Humptulips. 

Willapa. 

Willapa No. 2. 

GENERAL STATISTICS. 

Distribution of fry, etc. — In the next table is shown by years and 
species the distribution in Pacific coast waters of fry, fmgerlings, 
yearlings, and adults from 1873, when the first hatchery be^an oper- 
ation, to 1919, inclusive. The figures on fingerlings, yearlings, and 
adults are not as complete as could be wished, this being due to cer- 
tain of the State fish commissions not separating them from the fry 
in the published results. 

The table shows the enormous total of 7,990,416,264 fry and 
275,093,097 fingerlings, yearlings, and adults as having been deposited 
in local waters since the inception of the work on this coast. Of 
these nearly one-half were sockeye, or red salmon, followed by clii- 
nook, or spring, coho, or silver, dog, steelhead trout, and humpback 
salmon in the order named. 

This table does not show the large number of eggs, fry, etc., shipped 
from the coast hatcheries , to other sections of the country and to 
various foreign countries. These appear in the tables shown under 
the various States, Provinces, and Territories. 



DOMINION OF CANADA. 

Granite Creek. 
Pemberton. 
Harrison Lake. 
Stuart Lake. 
Skeena River. 
Babine Lake. 
Rivers Inlet. 
Fraser River. 
Anderson Lake. 
Kennedy Lake. 
Cowlchan Lake. 

PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

Seton Lake. 

BRITISH COLUMBIA PACKERS ASSOCIATION. 

Nimpkish Lake. 

ALASKA ("private HATCIIERIES). 

Alaska Packers Association: 

Fortmann. 
Northwestern Fisheries Co.: 

Quadra. 

Hetta. 
North Pacific Trading & Packing Co.: 

Klawak. 



U. S. B. F. Doc. 902. 








FIG. 43.— UNITED STATES SALMON HATLHtkV, iLj BAY, ALASKA. 




FIG. 44.— UNITED STATES SALMON HATCHER'r, AFOGNAK, ALASKA. 



U. S. B. F.— Doc. 902. 




FIG. 45.— ALASKA PACKERS ASSOCIATION FORTMANN HATCHERY, NAHA STREAM, 
ALASKA; THE LARGEST HATCHERY IN THE WORLD. 




FIG. 46.— CHEHALIS HATCHERY, WASHINGTON FISH AND GAME COMMISSION, 

SATSOP, WASH. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



215 



Distribution op Salmon in the Pacific Coastal Streams op North America, in 

Specified Years. 





Chinook, king, or spring. 


Coho, or silver. 


Chum. 


Humpback, or pink. 


Year. 


Fry. 


Finger- 

llngs, 

yearlings, 

and 

adults. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlmgs, 
anft 
adults. 


1873.... 


520,000 

850,000 

2,250,000 

2,000,000 

2,550,000 

2,582,620 

5,376,500 

4,059,290 

4,974,790 

3,991,750 

600,000 

150, 000 

200,000 

2,590,000 

8,168,000 

5,250,475 

9,269,000 

4,299,000 

10,825,950 

8,427,900 

6,458,000 

25,581,033 

31,146,095 

73,684,076 

■ 56,773,351 

33,974,064 

36, 563, 138 

73,852,120 

75, 558, 389 

161,530,963 

143,714,117 

167,745,494 

124,578,390 

135,447,179 

88, 188, 707 

97,361,532 

80,570,265 

101,810,515 

112,008,886 

133,271,477 

149,666,221 

151,649,595 

96,975,725 

133,102,069 

67,908,011 
















1874.... 
















1875.... 
















1876.... 














1877.... 














1878.... 








i 






1879. . . . 














1880. . . . 








1 






1881 




■ 


i 






1882.... 
















1884 
















1886.... 
















1887 
















1888.... 
















1889 
















1890.... 
















1891 
















1892.... 


25,000 














1893 














1894.... 




280,000 
910,000 












1895 




560,000 










1896 


807, 150 










1897 


298,137 












1898.... 












1899 




189,000 
13,925,104 
20,047,935 
41,436,123 
34, 460, 291 
23,894,026 
30,743,492 
47,356,449 
44,426,380 
54,108,557 
50,648,674 
45,863,952 
52,869,759 
66,087,446 
79, 313, 839 
67,682,576 
92,926,831 
56,647,147 
17,828,235 
55,697,111 
32,207,426 








. 1 


1900 






10,301,760 
16,478,280 
9,937,390 
10,012,390 








1901.... 


1,668 










1902 











1903.... 












1904 








521,797 




1005.... 














1906 


122,980 


300 


3, 268, 800 

6,120,000 

4,342,350 

7,805,000 

8, 607, 500 

13,435,750 

4,684,950 

35,792,440 

16,623,984 

63,088,372 

63,390,798 

26,133,925 

82, 020, 140 




969,990 

4,224,255 

31,920,662 

10,000 

2,251,340 

460, 150 

34,205,460 

1,888 

39,685,814 

7,867,484 

15,842,627 

4,953,000 

22, 159, 186 

5,426,000 




1907.... 






1908 


2,165,797 

16,949 

225 

11, 700 

1,405,860 








1909 








1910 








1911 








1912... 


116,300 






1913 






1914 


2,571,711 
9,875,745 
26,070,128 
27,060,581 
22,384,610 
58,007,670 








1915.... 








1916.... 
1917.... 

1918 


5,543,712 
4, 663, 560 
10,148,815 
3, 286, 580 


1,000,000 
7,014,580 


2,915,000 
7,449,030 
4,736,000 


1919.... 


26,772,025 


4,524,560 


369,958 


Total. 


2,438,054,687 


150,527,774 


929,848,490 


24,319,267 


408,815,854 


12,539,140 


170,499,653 


15,469,988 



216 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Distribution of Salmon in the Pacific Coastal Streams op North America, in 
Specified Years — Continued. 





Sockeye, red. 


or blueback. 


Steelhead trout. 


Total. 


Year. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, year- 
lings, and 

adults. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, year- 
lings, and 

adults. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, year 
lings, and 

adults. 


1873 










520,000 

850,000 

2,250,000 

2,000,000 

2,550,000 

2,582,620 

5,376,500 

4,059,290 

4,974,790 

3,991,750 

600,000 

1,800,000 

2,775,000 

4,614,000 

8,397,000 

12,587,000 

11,890,475 

12,872,800 

10,299,000 

17,099,950 

17,565,400 

19,049,000 

41,556,841 

50,080,672 

95,250,076" 

72,731,976 

89,852,488 

94,699,932 

201,148,581 

213,939,500 

260,864,906 

298, 226, 484 

458, 104, 140 

412,996,968 

462,184,874 

394,097,305 

561,668,565 

419,79^,138 

543,824,521 

485,918,028 

530,349,190 

53.5,401,818 

563,065,182 

376,986,109 

466, 502, 407 

212,465,988 




1874 












1875 












1876 












1877 












1878 1 










1879 










1880 i 


! i 




1881 


i 






1882 ! 


! 






1884 


i 






1885 . . . 


1,800,000 

2,625,000 

4,414,000 

5,807,000 

4,419,000 

6,640,000 

3,603,800 

6,000,000 

6,274,000 

8,504,000 

11,681,000 

15,868,000 

18,374,440 

20,916,000 

15,761,000 

29,590,000 

19,901,253 

72,679,000 

89, 398, 789 

70, 710, 200 

119,963,200 

232,037,442 

228,018,450 

230, 528, 455 

239, 251, 146 

396,215,795 

257,463,497 

324,325,768 

242,146,069 

261,365,781 

198,910,010 

256,582,879 

215,853,504 

155,043,461 

62,397,320 


i 






1886 


1 






1887 








1888 . 










1889 










1890 










1891 










1892 








25,000 


1893 








1894 




353,500 






1895 . . 






560,000 






107,808 
262,000 
650,000 
8,625 
2,061,560 
1,709,326 
3,243,948 
4,509,641 
4,207,920 
3, 805, 675 
6,725,965 
5, 629, 493 
5,837,671 
8,193,778 
11,368,446 
14,995,717 
12,710,382 
16,654,906 
11,719,558 
22,942,900 
18,952,136 
15,241,720 
18, 480, 440 
17,755,206 




807, 150 


1897 
















1899 
















1901 






i,668 










1903 




37,033 


37, 033 








1905 












24,383 


147, 663 


1907 












2, 165, 797 


1909 






16,949 


1910 






225 


1911 






11,700 






177,790 


1,699,950 


1913 












2,571,711 


1915 


8,369,830 
15,292,732 
12,305,953 
12,705,285 
14,299,960 




18,245,575 




3,480,092 

1,887,950 

3,520,420 

135,500 


54,301,664 


1917 


60,381,654 


1918 


53, 495, 130 


1919 


80,624,228 






Total 


3,835,069,259 


62,973,760 


208,128,321 


9,263,168 


7,990,416,264 


275,093,097 







Outjmt of United States Bureau of Fisheries hatcheries. — The next 
table shows by years and species the combined output of the various 
hatcheries of the United States Bureau of Fisheries on this coast. 
The greater part of the egg output was to various State hatcheries 
on the Pacific coast, more particularly those belonging to the State 
of California. The total figures show that since the Bureau began 
operations on this coast it has distributed 1,173,825,343 eggs, 
2,063,076,832 fry, and 281,317,294 fingerlings, yearlings, and adults. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



217 



Output op Pacific Coast Salmon Hatcheries Owned by the U. S. Bureau op 

Fisheries, 1872 to 1919. 





Chinook, king, or spring. 


Coho, or silver. 




Year. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


1872 


30,000 
1,400,000 
4,155,000 
6,250,000 
5,065,000 
4,9,83,000 
7,810.000 
4,2.50,000 
3,800,000 
4,300,000 












1873 












1874 


8.50, 000 
1,750,000 
1,500,000 
2,000,000 
2,500,000 
2,300,000 
2,000,000 
3,100,000 
3,991,750 
776, 125 
6,000,000 
2,860,475 
5. 678,, 525 
1,647,900 
5,290,100 
651,500 
500,000 
3.547,850 
9,828.095 
39,950,698 
9.366,366 
14,287,264 
7,987,107 
29.340,308 
23,845,956 
35,006,988 
21,620,292 
20, 797. 543 
17,567,092 
24,998,185 
20,177,286 
15,682,064 
16,659,684 
31,040,893 
33,41j,423 
48,895,607 
53,612,056 
57,870,714 
16.404,404 
6,028,918 
389,002 










1875 








1876 


:::::::::::;i::::::;::::: 






1877 








1878 








1879 






1880 


1 




1881 


1 




1882 








1883 










1889 a 


3,4.')0,000 
2.,5,'>4.000 
3,688, COO 
2.902.000 
3, .5.30, 000 
7,. 500, 000 
3.699.000 
2,798.500 
18, 232,. 590 
30.605,000 
32,618,000 
7,411,000 
11,615,036 
19,446,410 
16,160,177 
75,217,354 
96,055,765 
115.648,145 
78,587.705 
68, 520, 550 
38,859,265 
38,306,709 
37,314,514 
36,837,5.50 
58, 296, 873 
31,032,645 
25,751,005 
20,622,340 
7,191,200 
18,074,900 
12,782,500 








1890 




1 




1891 








1892 




1 




1893 










1894 






280,000 

690,000 






1895 






560,000 


1896 


557,150 










298. 137 




1898 












1 




1900 






146,824 

302.041 

424,530 

81.812 

3,984,645 

9,321,513 

6,445,574 

3,636,952 

13,420,714 

9,470,925 

10,888,025 

6,210,296 

12,955.824 

13,952,963 

24,619,456 

24.018,3,55 

8,124,334 

4,403,700 

980,300 

7,544,020 






1,068 






1902 








250 


680,800 




1904 








107,000 
239, 180 
760,000 
296, 000 
272,000 
275, 000 
2,391,900 

52,000 
202,000 

95.840 
111,200 
198, 500 




1906 


123,118 


300 






1908 


2,165,797 

16, 949 

225 

211,700 

1,405,860 


57,932 






1910 




1911 




1912 








1914 


5,582,796 
9,604,985 
22,982,655 
27,858,026 
63,176,244 
34,088,150 


27,258 


1915 


267,662 


1916 


1,469,507 




4,662,960 


1918 




10,504,115 


1919 




1,291,730 








Total 


967,351.733 


601,720.170 


167,775.573 


5,681,420 


162,200,940 


18,841,464 





Chum. 


Humpback, or pink. 


Sockeye, red, or blueback. 


Year. 


Fry. 


Fmger- 

lings, 

yearlings, 

and 

adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


1900 














10,683,000 
3,834,453 
3,371,000 
3,731,789 
3,855.000 
7,819,281 
9,923,680 
58,835.0.55 
69,883,305 
93,408.496 
146,081,595 
100,490,900 
91,422,273 
78,724,900 
53,071,574 
46,282,691 
90,988,566 
84,152,825 
67,591,200 
48.393,000 




1901 
















1902 














1903 . . 


1 










1904 







176,597 








1905 












10,000 


1906.. .. 






2,000 


969,990 




880,000 


9,500 


1907 ! - - 








1908.. .. 


j 


502,000 


6,764,762 

10,000 

1,731,740 

460, 150 

2,566,325 

1,880 

37,648,422 

7,153,500 

6,106,400 

165,000 

2,132,831 

5,426,500 




75,666 
100,000 




1909 








1910.. .. 


1 








1911 


911,650 
2,495,000 
19,479,000 
8, 672, 735 
35,504,707 
21,500,944 
14,403,300 
9,892,145 
4,544,000 




100,000 
3,271,740 








1912 






2,000,000 
2,000,000 
6,020,000 
155.000 
3,100,000 
2,000,000 
18,000,000 
101,981,000 




1913 








1914 




13,260,000 
14,500,000 
7,000,000 


4,355 

119,480 

2,915,000 

7,499,030 

3,736,000 

369,958 


120,000 


1915 




8,416,405 


1916 

1917 


1,000,000 
7,014,580 


2,666,308 
2,145,953 


1918 




12,705,285 


1919 


4,524,560 


10,062,000 


25,959,960 


Total. 


117,403,481 jl2,539,140 


48,697,740 


71,314,097 


14,643,823 


136,311,000 


1,072,544,583 


52,033,411 



Operations suspended from 1884 to 1888, both inclusive. 



218 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Output of Pacific Coast Salmon Hatcheries Owned by the U. S. Bureau 
OF Fisheries, 1872 to 1919— Continued. 





Steelhead trout. 


Total. 


Year. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


1872 








30,000 
1,400,000 
4,155,000 
6,250,000 
5,065,000 
4,983,000 
7,810,000 
4,250,000 
3,800,000 
4,300,000 






1873 












1874 








850,000 

1,750,000 

1,500,000 

2,000,000 

2,500,000 

2,300,000 

2,000,000 

3,100,000 

3,991,750 

776, 125 

6,000,000 

2,860,475 

5,678,525 

1,647,900 

5,290,100 

1,240,000 

2,042,500 

3,655,658 

10,383,232 

40,600,698 

9,378,491 

25,242,088 

12,189,451 

33,266,088 

28,362,257 

43,116,435 

39,298,291 

39,971,272 

81,229,404 

116,156,562 

124,737,078 

177,894,650 

128,559,119 

144,769,730 

149,850,391 

176,930,232 

171,834,282 

185,432,558 

121,542,739 

86,728,394 

66,296,522 




1875 








1876 


1 




1877 


1 




1878 


; 




1879 






1880 1 1 





1881 i 




1882 i ! 




1883 


1 1 






18.S9 a 






3,450,000 
2,554,000 
8,688,000 
2,902,000 
3,530,000 
7,575,000 
3,699,000 
2,973,500 
18,282,590 
30,665,000 
32,777,000 
7,826,000 
11,861,036 
19,927,410 
17,320,977 
75,442,354 
96, 627, 165 
117,127,325 
79,597,705 
69,881,275 
39,714,990 
38,881,709 
40,466,414 
43,066,290 
61,828,873 
51,137,485 
41,394,205 
32,410,840 
12,428,800 
37,144,900 
125, 600, 500 




1890 . . 


^ 






1891 








1892 










1893 










1894 


75,000 


308,500 

852,500 

107,808 

257,000 

650,000 

12,125 

125,000 

65,850 

130,250 

702,700 

93,205 

537,205 

1,834,485 

1,190,305 

1,089,596 

1,670,371 

3,511,226 

3,826,439 

4,289,415 

4,272,225 

4,022,438 

5,262,973 

841,600 

2,013,510 

103,000 






1895 


332,060 


892,000 


1896 


175,000 
50,000 
60,000 
159,000 
415,000 
246,000 
481,000 
480,000 
225,000 
464,400 
358,000 
250,000 
487, 725 
483,725 
300,000 
660,000 
905,000 
1,330,000 
729,000 
877,000 
1,490,000 
3,237,600 
1,070,000 
775,000 


557, 150 


1897 




1898 






1899 






1900 






1901 


25,000 


26,668 


1902 


1903 


285,848 
11,090 


286,098 


1904 


11,090 


1905 


10, 000 


1906 


40,383 


173,301 


1907 






2,223,729 

16, 949 

225 


1909 




1910 




1911 




211,700 




294,090 


1,699,950 


1913 


1914 




6,734,409 
19,456,849 
34,710,275 
51,071 999 


1915 


1,048,317 
3,676,805 
1,891,450 

6,854,785 
1,148,000 




1917 




96,976,429 
67,382,358 


1919 






Total 


15.783,450 


37,769,726 


15.607,768 


1,173,825,343 


2,062,952,997 


281,441,179 





a Operations suspended from 1884 to 1888, both inclusive. 
ACCLIMATIZING PACIFIC SALMON IN OTHER WATERS. 

For many years efforts have been made by the United States 
Bureau of Fisheries and various State fish commissions to introduce 
Pacific coast salmon in eastern waters. In the early history of fish 
culture chinook fry were planted in almost every imaginable stream 
along the Atlantic seaboard, in various streams in the Mississippi 
Valley, and also in tributaries of the Great Lakes. In most cases, 
owing to the unsuitability of the water, the experiment was doomed 
to failure from the start. In the case of a few streams where results 
might have been obtained, the plantings were at long intervals and 
the fish were too small to protect themselves, while no effort was 
made by the State authorities to protect them. 

The most successful results with plants of chinook salmon have 
been obtained in Lake Sunapee, N. H,, where it is now a not uncom- 
mon thing for anglers to catch chinook with rod and reel. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 219 

In 1912 about 10,000 chinook fingerlings from Columbia River eggs 
furnished by the United States Bureau of Fisheries were planted by 
the Massachusetts Fish Commission in Lake Quinsigamond, and 
during July, 1914, about 20 months after they weie hatched, over 
600 salmon, according to a member of the commission, were caught, 
ranging from 1^ to 5 pounds each. 

Other plants have been made since in Lake Quinsigamond and 
other lakes and ponds, with fairly satisfactory results, and the 
ultimate outcome of the experiment is awaited with much interest. 

The most successful efTort in this line was initiated by the United 
States Bureau of Fisheries in the fall of 1913, when it transferred 
from its hatcheries on the Pacific coast to those in Maine 13,240,000 
humpback-salmon eggs. These were followed by a second shipment 
of 7,022,000 eggs in the fall of 1914, a third shipment of about 
7,000,000 eggs m the fall of 1915, and others each year since. These 
eggs were hatched out and the fry planted in various selected New 
England streams where the conditions seemed favorable. 

Early in August, 1915, a female humpback salmon 22^ inches long 
and weighing 4 pounds 3 ounces was taken at the Bangor water- 
works in the Penobscot River. Shortly after a male fish of about 
the same size was taken in this river at Orland Dam. A little later 
agents of the Bureau captured 20 alive near Bangor, and about 
3,000 eggs were obtained and fertilized. 

In Deiinys River, in Maine, during the period between August 15 
and September 24, local fishermen caught a number. Since then 
they have been rmming regularly each season into certain of these 
streams. 

The chinook salmon has also been acclimatized in the waters of 
New Zealand. They were first introduced in 1900, and eggs were 
imported for six years in succession A considerable annual run 
now enters those rivers in which the salmon were planted. 

In 1908 the United States Bureau of Fisheries initiated an effort 
to establish a run of sockeye salmon in Grandy Creek, a stream in the 
immediate vicinity of the Birdsview (Wash.) hatchery of the Bureau, 
and one which had not been visited by this species. The first fish, 
numbering 64,000, were planted in the creek in 1908. Four years 
afterwards, in September, 1912, the first sockeye salmon entered the 
hatchery trap in Grandy Creek, and from them 222,000 eggs were 
secured. In 1916 the water in the creek was too low to permit the 
ascent of salmon until September 26, when its level was slightly 
raised by local rains, and a few fish immediately entered it and were 
taken in the hatchery trap. The eggs secured from the small number 
available amounted to 24,500. The 1920 run is being awaited with 
much interest. 

In 1916 L, H. Darwin, commissioner of fish and game for the 
State of Washington, began an experiment looking to the stocking, 
with sockeye salmon, of the Samish River, a stream debouching in 
Puget Sound, and in which this species had not hitherto been found. 
The parent fish were obtained from traps and transported alive in 
crates to the Samish State hatchery, where they were held until ripe 
and then stripped and fertilized. After hatching, the fry weie 
planted in the stream. A few returned in 1920. 



220 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

CALIFORNIA. 
HISTORY. 

The first fish-cultural station on the Pacific coast was located on 
McCloud River, a stream of the Sierra Nevada Mountains emptying 
into Pit River, a tributary to the Sacramento, 323 miles nearly due 
north of San Francisco. The site on the west bank of the river, 
about 3 miles above the mouth, was chosen after investigation of a 
number of places on the Sacramento, by Livingston Stone, one of 
America's pioneer fish culturists, and the station was named Baird, 
in honor of the then Commissioner of Fisheries, Prof. Spencer F. 
Baird. Although the season had nearly passed when the station 
was sufficiently advanced to handle eggs, 50,000 eggs were secured, 
and while 20,000 were lost, owing to the excessive heat, the remaining 
30,000 were shipped east, all of which were eventually lost but 7,000 
fry, which were planted in the Susquehanna River, in Pennsylvania. 

The main object of the hatchery the first few years was to secure 
eggs to ship to the East for the purpose of introducing Pacific salmon 
in the waters of that section. The commission early made an agree- 
ment with the State of California, however, under which the latter 
at first paid part of the expense, and the commission hatched and 
planted a portion of the take in the McCloud River. Later, part of 
the eggs were turned over to the State, which hatched and planted 
the salmon in local waters. 

In 1881 the station buildings were washed away in a freshet, but 
were immediately rebuilt. From 1884 to 1887, both inclusive, all 
operations were suspended. 

In 1889 a hatchery was established at Fort Gaston, on the Army 
reservation in the Hoopa Indian Reservation in Humboldt County, 
but it was not put into operation until 1890. As the reservation 
was abolished on July 1, 1892, the commission took complete charge 
of the plant, and in 1893 established a tributary station on Redwood 
Creek, The same year Korbel station was established about one- 
half mile above Korbel, on Mad River, in Humboldt County. Owing 
to the lack of money this station was closed in the fiscal year 1896, 
but was reopened during the fiscal year 1897. 

That same year the commission erected, on OTOund owned by the 
State, a hatchery at Battle Creek, in Tehama County, and also took 
charge of and operated the hatchery erected at this place by the 
State fish commission the previous year. Under the terms of an 
agreement the commission was to deliver to the State as many eyed 
spawn as the latter could hatch at Sisson, its own station. 

Owing to their inaccessibility, the Fort Gaston hatchery and its 
substations were abandoned in 1898. The same year an experi- 
mental station was established at Olema, Bear VaUey, in Marin 
County, whence eggs were transferred from Baird station, hatched 
out here, and planted in Olema Creek in order to see if they could 
not be domesticated here, where they had not been found pre- 
viously. 

During the fiscal year 1902 a substation was established on Mill 
Creek, a stream which has its source in the foothills of the Sierra 
Mountains, in the northeastern part of Tehama County, and empties 
into the Sacramento River from the east about a mile above the 
town of Tehama. The eggs are retained here until eyed and then 
shipped to other hatcheries. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 221 

As statofi above, the State aided the work of the United States 
Fish Commission in a financial way and also by hatching and dis- 
tributing the eggs turned over to its care. In 1885 the vState legis- 
lature passed a bill authorizing the establishment of a hatchery of 
its own, and the same year such a station was built upon Hat Creek 
about 2^ miles above its junction with Pitt River, a tributary of 
the vSacramento River. As the work of the first few seasons devel- 
oped that the location M^as unsuitable, the hatchery was removed 
in 1888 to Sisson, in Siskiyou County. It is now known as the 
Mount Shasta hatchery. The work of this hatchery was to handle 
the eggs turned over to it by the United States Fish Commission. 
It was almost doubled in size in 1917. 

In 1895 another hatchery was built by the State near the mouth 
of Battle Creek, a tributary of the Sacramento River. In 1896 and 
1897 this hatchery was operated jointly by the State and the United 
States Fish Commission while awaiting the appropriation of money 
by the commission to purchase it from the State. 

In the fall of 1897 a hatchery was estabhshed by the State at 
Grizzly Blufi, on Price Creek, a tributary of Eel River, in Humboldt 
County, and in 1902 this hatchery made the first plant in the State 
of steelliead trout fry. In 1916 it was moved to a point on' Eel 
River near Fort Seward. 

Santa Cruz County has had a hatchery at Brookdale for a number 
of years. In 1911 it was leased to the State and operated by the 
latter during the seasons of 1911 and 1912. In 1913 the State gave 
up the lease and entered into a contract to purchase the eggs pro- 
duced from this hatchery. The price agreed upon was that the 
State commission was to pay $1.50 per thousand for the eyed steel- 
head eggs, up to the number of 2,000,000, and $1 per thousand for aU 
eggs up to 3,000,000, provided that the eggs were collected and eyed 
by a skilled fish culturist and would pass inspection before they were 
accepted. In 1916 the State leased the plant for a term of years. 

A hatchery was established by the United States Bureau of Fish- 
eries at Hornbrook, on Ivlamath River, in 1913. At first this hatch- 
ery was devoted to rainbow-trout work, but later the collection and 
distribution of silver and chinook salmon was taken up. 

During the fall of 1911 the State established an experimental 
station at Sacramento in order to carry on a series of experiments to 
determine whether the eggs of the quinnat salmon could be success- 
fully hatched and the fry reared near the city of Sacramento. Of 
the fish hatched at this station 50,000 were marked. 

Nearly aU of the fry that were liberated in the Sacramento River 
were floated in a screen cage by boat into the middle of the stream 
and there released. N. B. Scofield took 500 in a floating box down 
the river, where they were held and fed for several weeks in brackish 
and salt water. They were apparently not affected b}^ the changes 
in the salinity of the water. 

Experiments were carried on until the summer of 1913, when 
they were abandoned due to the killing of the embryos by the min- 
eral substances in the water used at the station. 

During the fiscal year 1912 the Mill Creek hatchery of the United 
States Bureau of Fisheries was operated by the California Commission. 

Some years ago the town of Ukiah, Mendocino County, estab- 
lished a hatchery 1 mile from the town, and on Russian River. 



222 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



For some years it was operated as a trout station, but eventually 
became an important steelliead hatchery. It was not operated in 
1913. In 1914 the State Fish Commission collected steelhead eggs 
at the Eel Eiver dam of the Snow Mountain Water & Power Co., 
and having secured permission from the town of Ukiah, hatched 
them out in its hatchery. 

As the Hornbrook hatchery on Klamath River was on private 
Toperty, the United States Bureau of Fisheries in 1915 removed the 
•uildings from the old location on the south side to property owned 
by the Government on the north side of the river. 

In 1915 new hatchery buildings were erected at the Mill Creek 
hatchery. 

OUTPUT. 

The following tables show separately the quantity of salmon eggs, 
fry, fingerlings, yearlings, and adults distributed by the United 
States Bureau of Fisheries and by the State since the inception of 
the work. The large quantity of eggs shown bv the Bureau represents 
largely the eggs supphed to the State, which hatched and distributed 
them, and eggs sent to other States and to foreign countries. 

Output of Hatcheries in California Owned by the United States Bureau of 

FiSHEKIES. 



Year ending June 30— o 



1872.. 
1873.. 
1874.. 
1875... 
1876... 
1877.., 
1878.., 
1879.., 
1880... 
1881... 
1882... 
1SS3... 
1889 6 . 
1890... 
1891... 
1892... 
1893... 
1894... 
1895... 
189G... 
1897... 
1898... 



1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911- 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Chinook. 



Eggs. 



30,000 
,400,000 
, 155, 000 
, 250, 000 
065, 000 
,9&3,O0O 
810, 000 
250,000 
800,000 
300,000 



450,000 
554,000 
988, 000 
902, 000 
530,000 
500, 000 
676,000 
170, 800 
232, 590 
605, 000 
665,000 
925,000 
934, 036 
580,410 
275. 777 
598,354 
025, 765 
905, 945 
376.315, 
990, 550 
278, 265 
539,467 
364, 514 
697,550 
092, 873 
373,645 
716,005 
622, 340 
027,300 
421,900 
802.500 



Fry. 



850, 

1,750, 

1,500, 

2,000, 

2,500, 

2,300, 

2,000, 

3, 100, 

3,991, 

776, 

1,500, 

84, 

777, 

315, 

1,190, 

438, 

500, 

715, 

3,056, 

15,643, 

3,275. 

3,533, 

889, 

2,115, 

1,618, 

2,350, 

7,561. 

3,496, 

2,512, 

4,780, 

3, 590, 

2,286, 

3, 666, 

7, 243, 

2, 195, 

5, 598, 

5,015, 

9, 940, 

800, 



000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
750 
125 
000 
000 
000 
500 
100 
500 
000 
700 
701 
300 
110 
950 
570 
560 
066 
130 
380 
267 
250 
855 
078 
257 
061 
325 
100 
349 
400 
950 
000 



Fingprlin,e;s 
yearlings, 
and adults 



Silver. 



Eggs. 



Fry. 



Fingerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 



^ot'^' 825,864,901 117,457,334 59,479,992 2,485,740 7,012,707 



280,000 
690,000 



298, 137 



560,000 



2,289,900 



3.849,991 
8,086.139 
11,938,224 
14, 628, .300 
10,689.400 
10, 287, 800 



100, 000 
95, 840 



17,320 

2,536.460 

971,740 

2, 169, 050 

50, 000 



226, 162 

"ii, '666 



797, 162 



o The calendar year was used up to 1889. b ^he hatchery was closed from 1884 to 1888, 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



223 



Output op Hatcheries in Californi.\ Owned by the United States Bureau op 

Fisheries — Continued. 





Steelhcad trout. 


Total. 


Year cndins .Tunc 30 —a 


Egsrs. 


Fry. 


Fingerlings, 
yearlin.EfS, 
and adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


ringcrlings, 
yoarlings, 
and adults. 


1872 








30,000 
1,400,000 
4,155,000 
6,250,000 
5,065,000 
4,983,000 
7,810,000 
4, 250, 000 
3, 800. 000 
4,300,000 






1873 












1874 








8.50,000 
1,7.50,000 
1,. 500. 000 
2,000,000 

2, .500, 000 
2,300,000 
2,000,000 
3,100,000 
3,991,750 

776, 125 

1,500,000 

84,000 

777,000 

315, .500 
1,190,100 
1,027,000 
2, 042, ,500 

823,. 508 
3,611,838 
16,293,300 
3,275,110 

3, .533, 9.50 
889, .570 

2, 115,. 560 
1,618,066 
2,-350,130 
7, .561, -580 
3,496,267 
2,512,2.50 
4,780,8.55 
3,. 590, 078 
2, 286, 257 
3,666,061 
7,243,325 
2,212,420 
8,134,809 
5,987,140 
12,110,000 
850,000 




1875 










1876 










1877 










1878 










1879 










1880 










1881 ; 








1882 1 






1883 










18896 1 






3,450,000 
1,554,000 
2,988,000 
2,902,000 
3,530,000 
7,575,000 
3,676,000 
6,345,800 
18, 282, .590 
30, 665, 000 




1890 








1891 










1892 










1893 










1894 


75,000 


308. 500 
852, 500 
107.808 
2.57,000 
650, 000 






1895 ;... 


332,000 


892,000 


1896 


175,000 
50,000 
60,000 


1897 






1898 






1899 




27,665,000 
2,925,000 
3,934,a36 
17,580,410 
11,275,777 
64,598.354 
96,025,765 
107,905,945 
73,376,315 




1900 










1901 










1902 
















1904 1 






1905 1 ' 






1906 1 . . 




138 


1907 , 








1908 1 




64,990,550 
32, 278, 265 
30,539,467 
35,654,414 
20,697,550 
17, 192, 873 
25,469,485 
20,716,005 
19,622.340 
7,027,300 
14,421,900 
11 802 ,500 




1909 






1910 













1912 1 








1913 









1914 






3,849,991 
8 312 301 


1915 ' 






1916 








11 938 224 


1917 








14^639', 300 
10,689,400 
10 ''87 800 


1918 








1919 
























Total 


360,000 


2, 175, 808 


332,000 


828,710,641 ii2r. r,45 S4Q 


60,609.154 









o The calendar year was used up to 1889. 



b The hatchery was closed from 1884 to 1888. 



224 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Output op Hatcheries Owned by the State of CALrpoRNiA. 



Year. 


Chinoo'k. 


Silver fry. 


Steelhead 
fry. 


Total. 


Eggs. 


Fry.o 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


1873 




520, 000 

850,000 

2,250,000 

2,000,000 

2, 200, 000 

2,500,000 

2,300,000 

2, 22.5, 000 

2, 420, 000 

3,991,750 

600, 000 

150, 000 

200, 000 

1,290,000 

2, 168, 000 

1,320,000 

2,798,000 

2,651,000 

3,941,650 

7,776,400 

3,435,000 

15, 283, 183 

18,123,000 

31,476,388 

21,234,000 

2,536,000 

3, 239, 000 

16, 852, 040 

20, 040, 487 

63, eiS2, 000 

87,000,000 

105,815,920 

71,267,000 

60,619,000 

28,000,000 

28, 469, 745 

29,657,263 

18,909,445 

16, 277, 227 

25, 290, 615 

33, 313, 150 

19,339,738 

6,853,000 

14,439,000 

11,970,000 








520,000 
850,000 
2,250,000 
2,000,000 
2,200,000 
2,500,000 
2,300,000 
2,225,000 
2, 420, 000 


1874 










1875 


6 250,000 






250,000 


1876 






1877 










1878 










1879 










1880 










1881 










1882 










3,991,750 


1884 










600,000 


1886 










150,000 


1887 










200,000 


1888 










1,290,000 


1889 










2, 168, 000 


1890 










1,320,000 
2,798,000 
2,651,000 


1891 










1892 




















3,941,650 


1894 










7,776,400 
3,435,000 
15,283,183 












1896 




















18,123,000 
31, 476, 388 


1898 




















21,234,000 


1900 










2, 536, 000 












3, 239, 000 


1902 ' 




301,000 

120,000 

90,000 

108, 000 

243,000 

352,000 

170,000 

517,000 

637,800 

1,858,100 

2,177,958 

1,983,500 

3,171,083 

8,582,500 

5, 213, 170 

6,699,420 

4, 483, 000 

4,950,000 




17, 153, 040 








20, 160, 487 


1904 






63, 722, 000 


1905 . 








87, 108, 000 


1906 








106,058,920 










71,619,000 


1908 








60, 789, 000 










28, 517, 000 


1910 








29,107,545 






2,060,910 




33, 576, 273 


1912 






21,087,403 


1913 . . 




25,000 

12,500 

1, 417, 000 




18,285,727 


1914 






28, 474, 198 






43, 312, ftiO 


1916 






24,-552,908 










13,552,420 


1918 








18,922,000 






178, 000 




17,098,000 












250,000 


797, 224, 001 


3, 693, 410 


41,657,531 


250, 000 


842,574,942 







a The greater part of the output of chinook fry was from eggs supplied by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries 
hatcheries in California. 
b AU were lost. 

DISTRIBUTION. 

The followino; table shows, by streams and species, the distribution 
in California of the salmon eggs, fry, fingerlings, yearlings, and 
adults, from the hatcheries of the United States Bureau of Fisheries 
and the State. This far from represents the work of the hatcheries, 
as lar^e quantities of eggs were sent to other States and foreign 
countries. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 225 

DisTRiBtJTiON OP Salmon in the Waters of California. 





Klamath River and tributaries. 


Redwood Creek and tributaries. 


Year. 


Chinook. 


Silver. 


Chinook 
fry. 


Silver. 






Fry. 


Year- 
lings. 


Fry. 


Yearlings 

and 

adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings 

and 

adults. 


Steel- 
head fry. 


1890 


90,000 
30,000 
147,600 
487,200 
















1891 








25,000 
142,500 
170,000 








1892 


25,000 












1S93 












1S95" 




300,000 


160,000 


140,000 


400,000 




1896 






65, 700 

280,2.-0 

1,260,000 


107,808 


1S97 










124,750 




202,000 


1898 


16,000 
40,000 










650 000 


1903 














1911 




2,060,910 
17,320 
2, ,548, 960 
1,098,000 
2,169,050 
50,000 












1913 
















1914 


2,15.5,100 
5,820,000 
7,733,135 
1,728,000 
3,67.5,000 
1,148,000 














1915 . . 














1916 














1917 


3RS, 000 


11,000 










1918 










1919 




178,000 


























Total 


23,070,035 


393,000 


8,422,240 


171,000 


1,943,4.50 


26'l^750 


400, 000 


959,808 



Year. 


Mad River and North Fork. 


Eel River. 


Russian 
River. 


Skaggs 
Springs. 


Marin 
County 
creeks. 




Chinook 
fry. 


Silver 

fry- 


Steel- 
head fry. 


Chinook 
fry. 


Steel- 
head fry. 


Chinook fry. 


1881 










15,000 


15,000 




1894 




280,000 
470, 000 
173,387 


308,500 








1895 
















1897 


145,365 


60,000 










635,000 


1898 


7,857,388 

8,202,000 

885,000 

2,069,500 

5,257,947 

5,200,000 

8,100,000 

9,265,920 

7, .570, 000 

6,154,000 

5,500,000 

5,969,745 

3,103,660 

1,386,500 

3,723,000 

2,618,150 

91,000 

844,000 

682,000 








1,970,000 


1899 














900,000 


1900 
















1902 . . . . 








301 , 000 
120, 000 
90,000 








1903 














1904 














1905 














1906 








243,000 
352, 000 








1907 








2.5,000 




25,000 


1908 












1909 








349, 000 
334,800 








1910 














1912 


100,000 
100, 000 
225,000 
350, 000 
400, 000 
250, 000 
2.50,000 






1 




1913 












1914 














1915 














1917 














1918 














1919 




























Total 


1,820,365 


923,387 


368,500 


84,479,810 


1,789,800 


40,000 


15,000 


3, .530, 000 



11312°— 21- 



-15 



226 TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

Distribution op Salmon in the Waters op Calxpornia — Continued. 





Sacramento River and tributaries. 


San 
Fran- 
cisco 
Bay 
streams. 


Smith 
River. 


Santa 
Ynez 
River. 


Monte- 
rey Bay 

and 
tributa- 
ries. 


Year. 


Chinook. 


Silver 
fry. 


Steel- 
head 
fry. 






Eggs. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flnger- 

lings, and 
adults. 


Chinook fry. 


1873 


20, 000 


520,000 

850, 000 

2, 000, 000 

2, 000, 000 

2, 200, 000 

2, ,500, 000 

2,300,000 

2, 225, 000 

^ 2, 300, 500 

3,991,7.50 

600,000 

150,000 

;oo,ooo 

1,290, 000 

3,66.8,000 

1,404,000 

3,520,000 

2, 676, .500 

4, 474, 750 

8,214,900 

3,935,000 

15,683,183 

19,264,086 

33,998,300 

16,307,110 

5,184,9.50 

4, 128, 570 

16,898,100 

16,359,606 

60,782,130 

94,561,380 

100,038,552 

66,209,250 

.59,245,855 

26, 090, 000 

24,786,257 

33,323,324 

22,949,110 

16,691,167 

24,637,864 

<;28,688,000 

26,800,604 

5,875,000 

9, 470, 000 

9,840,000 
















1874 
















1875 


a 250, 000 
















1876 
















1877 


















1878 . 


















1879 


















1880 . 


















1881 










20,000 






30 000 


1882 . . 


80,300 














1884 
















1886... . 


















1887 


















1888... 


















1889 


















1890 


















1891 


















1892 


















1893 


















1894 








45, 000 










1895 
















1896 




250,000 














1897 
















1898 


















1899 


85,200 
















1900 
















1901 


















1902 


















1903 


















1904 


















1905 








108, 000 










1906 














900,000 


1907 








135, 000 
170,000 
168, 000 
303,000 








1,200 000 


1908 














800,000 


1909 
















1910 
















1911 
















1912 


















1913 










294,660 








1914 




838,906 
9,053,635 
5,538,224 
14,260,300 
10,6,89,400 
10,287,000 






100, 000 






1915 




1,194,762 






42,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25,000 




1916 








300,000 




1917 












1918 










100,000 




1919 


























Total... 


435, .500 


788,832,798 


50,917,465 


1,194,762 


929,000 


314,660 


500, 000 


142,000 


2,930,000 



o All were lost. 

b Includes 15,000 chinook fry planted in San regorio River and 15,000 chinook fry planted in Pescadero 
Creek. 

c Includes the following plants in Santa Barbara county streams: Bear Creek, 4,000; Maguelito Creek, 
2,000; and Salispuedes Creek, 2,000. 



PACIFIC 

Distribution of Salmon in 


SALMON FISHERIES. 227 

THE Waters op California — Continued. 


I Year. 


Mon- 
terey 
Bay 
and 

tribu- 
taries. 


Ven- 
tura 
River. 


Truckee 
River. 


Total. 


Silver 
fry. 


Chinook fry. 


Chinook. 


Silver. 




Eggs. 


Fry. 


Year- 
lings, 
finger- 
lings, 
and 
adults.a 


Fry. 


Adults 
and 
year- 
lings. 


steel- 
bead 
fry.* 


1873 








20,000 


520,000 










1874 








850 

2,250 

2,000 

2,200 

2,500 

2,300 

2,225 

2,390 

3,991 

600 

150 

200 

1,290 

3,668 

1,494 

3,575 

2,966 

5,131 

8,214 

3,935 

15,748 

20,324 

45,101 

25,409 

6,069 

4,128 

18,967 

21,657 

65,982 

102,661 

110,204 

75,029 

66, 199 

31,590 

30,756 

33 323 


000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
.500 
750 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
000 
600 
950 
900 
000 
883 
701 
688 
110 
950 
570 
600 
553 
130 
380 
472 
250 
855 
000 
002 
324 
770 
327 
964 
150 
739 
000 
000 
000 










1875 






250,000 


250,000 










1876 














1877 


















1878 


















1879 


















1880 
















1881 






10,000 


'so.'soo' 










1882 














1884 
















1886 


















1887 


















1888 


















1889 
















1890 










::::::::;::i:::;::.:.:. 






1891 


















1892 










25,000 








1893 
















1894 












280,000 
910,000 


560,' 666' 


353 500 


1895 














1896 










250,000 


107,808 
262,000 
650,000 


1897 










298,137 




1898 












1899 








85,200 








1900 
















1901 


















1902 
















301 666 


1903 . 
















120,000 
90 000 


1904 
















1905 
















lOS 000 


















■-'■13,000 
487 000 


1907 


80,000 
80,000 
c54,000 










80,000 
80, 0(H) 
42,000 














170 tXX) 


1909 .... 










518,200 

637,800 

1,858 100 












1911 












2,060,910 














26,1 '-2 
18,472 
30,840 
37,543 
34,883 
8,144 
14,389 
11,970 




2, 177' 958 
1,983,500 
3,171,083 


1913 


25,000 










42,320 
2,548,960 
2,363,762 
2,169,050 

50,000 


'ii,'666' 










838,906 
9,053,635 
5,538,224 
14,628,300 
10,689,400 
10,287,000 


1915 . . . 


71,000 


25,000 
25,000 
25,000 
25, 000 
25,000 






8,582 500 








5,213,170 
6,699,420 


1917 
















1919 








178,000 




4,950,000 












Total 


310,000 


125,000 


260,000 


435,500 


908,003 


118 


51,310,465 


11,103,139 


571,000 


38,684,039 



a Of recent years it has been impossible to show the total number of yearlings, fingcrlings, and adults 
planted.astheStatercportsdonotdistinguish them from the fry. Those shown in 1914-1919 werercared 
by the U.S. Bureau of I'isheries. 

* After 1911 the practice of showing waters in which steelheads were planted was abandoned as the 
number of streams was becoming unwieldy. 

c Includes 1,200 steelhcad fry, which in " Total " column are included under " Steelhead fry." 



228 V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

OREGON. 
HATCHERIES ON COASTAL STREAMS. 

Rogue River. — In 1877 R. D. Hume, who had been packing salmon 
on this river for some years, erected a hatchery at Ellensburg. 
In 1888 the Oregon Legislature appropriated a sum of money for the 
enlargement and support of this hatchery, Mr. Hume to retain 
complete control. As the location is on tidewater, it is necessary to 
catch the parent fish and hold them until they are ready to spawn, 
and in order to do this Mr. Hume had an excavation 32 by 62 feet 
and 1 1 feet deep made in the bank of the river. This was lined with 
concrete 1 foot thick, which, when filled with water, made a pond 
30 by 60 feet and 10 feet deep. Over the entire pond he constructed a 
building which could be closed up so as virtually to exclude the light. 
It is supposed that retaining the fish in a dark place aids in keeping 
them in good physical condition until ready to spawn. After the 
death of Mr. Hume in 1908 this hatchery was taken over and operated 
by the State. 

In 1897 Mr. Hume built and equipped a hatchery on the upper 
Rogue River at the mouth of Elk Creek, about 26 miles from the 
town of Central Point, in Jackson County, and, in pursuance of an 
understanding with the United States Fish Commission, the latter 
operated then and still continues to operate this plant. 

In 1900 the Government established an auxiliary station for the 
collection of steelhead trout eggs on Elk Creek, about 10 miles above 
the main station. In 1905 a substation was operated at Grants Pass, 
while during the fiscal year 1908 and in subsequent years substa- 
tions were operated at Findley Eddy, on the Rogue River, Illinois 
River, and Applegate Creek, tributaries of the Rogue. 

Many of the eggs gathered at the upper Rogue River stations were 
shi; ped to Mr. Plume's hatchery, on the lower river, and there hatched 
out and planted. 

Coquille River. — The State formerly had a hatchery on this river, 
but it was abandoned during the winter of 1902-3. In the winter 
of 1904-5 a substation was established on one of the tributaries of 
the Coquille River, about 6 miles from the South Coos River hatchery, 
and was used in hatching eggs brought to it from the latter place. 
A station was built on the north fork of the Coquille River in 1910. 

Coos River. — ^A hatchery was built by the State in 1900 on the South 
Coos River, about 20 miles from the town of Marshfield. 

Ihnpqua River. — In 1900 the State built a hatchery on the north 
fork of the Umpqua River, near the town of Glide and about 24 miles 
east of Roseburg. In 1901 a station was established farther up the 
north fork, at the mouth of Steamboat Creek. After working here 
two years the station was moved a couple of miles farther up the 
stream. In 1907 work was resumed again at the original station near 
Glide, as winter freshets had seriously damaged the upper station. 
A permanent station was built in 1910. 

Siuslaw River. — In 1893 the State erected a hatchery on Knowles 
Creek, a tributary of the Siuslaw River, about 20 miles above the 
mouth of the river. It was turned over to the United States Fish 
Commission to operate, but no fish came up to the hatchery because 
the fishermen lower down stretched their nets entirely across the river. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



229 



In 1897 and 1898 the United States Fish Commission operated a 
hatchery owned by a Mr. McGuire and located close to Mapleton, 
about 2 miles below the head of tidewater. 

In 1902 the State established an experimental station at the Bailey 
place, near Meadow post office. In 1907 a permanent station was 
established by the State on Land Creek fork of the Siushuv River. 

Alsea River. — In 1902 the State established a station on the Willis 
Vidito place, near the town of Alsea. In 1907 an experimental 
station was established on this river at the mouth of Rock Creek, 
about 14. miles above the head of tidewater. In 1910 an experi- 
mental station was established between Alsea and tidewater. 

Yaqimia River. — In 1902 the State established a hatching station 
on the Big Elk River, a tributary of Yaquina River, about 3 miles 
above its confluence with the main river. This station was made 
permanent the next year. 

Tillamook Bay. — In 1902 the State established a station on Wilson 
River, a tributary of Tillamook Bay, and about 8 miles above tide- 
water. In 1906 the station was removed to the Trask River, a 
tributary of Tillamook Bay. 

DISTRIBUTION. 

The following table shows the distribution of fry and fingerlings 
in the coastal streams of the State by the Government and the State: 

Distribution of Salmon in the Coastal Streams of Oregon. 



Year 

ending 

June 

30— 


Tillamook Bay and tributaries. 


Yaquina River. 


Alsea River. 


CMnook 
fry. 


Silver- 
side fry. 


Steel- 
head fry. 


Chinook 
fry. 


Silver- 
side fry. 


Steel- 
head fry. 


Chinook 
fry. 


Silver- 
side fry. 


Steel 
head fry. 


1898 


19,994 


















1901 .. 






213,500 

557,700 

3,144,380 

1,407,470 

816,608 

1,919,508 

2,193,043 

485,500 

324,038 

582,785 

148,992 

727,567 












1903 


251,875 
799,300 










67,750 






1904 






985,220 
3,009,075 
4,178,000 
1,955,793 

909,855 
1,006,309 
28,815 
2,637,550 
1,554,602 
3,288,650 








1905 






780,566 

1,033,150 

376,245 


1,000,000 
806,938 


i, 666, 666 

1,785,351 




1906 




::::::.:::::::::. 




1907 


3i2,766 
2,124,000 


2,648,000 
1,629,000 
4,896,000 
3,506,990 
1,080,000 
1,578,131 
422,886 
1,112,392 






1908 




199,700 


812,300 




1909 


569,690 
2,309,770 
1,196,000 
761,000 
848,229 
660, 588 
213,900 







1910 


624,800 
1,818,245 

646,300 
1,747,530 

487,692 

2,833,428 

01,982,724 

2,143,430 

1,442,400 

705,656 










1911 


621,015 
7,145 


495,950 
287,645 
87,935 


30,300 

997,455 
424,925 




1912 




1913 




1914 . 






1915 














1916 


a 130, 130 

183,800 

534,600 

2,097,442 








a 646, 431 

1,373,100 

869,370 

1,151,720 






1917 


495,090 








1,649,830 
1,107,483 
1,872,473 


1,495,315 


1918 










1919 


384,370 








1,753,104 












Total. 


17,940,074 


19,819,371 


7,438,637 


12,621,091 


19,553,869 1 2,818,055 


6,986,539 


9,680,117 


3,248,419 



• All fingerlings. 



230 u. s. 

Distribution op Salmon in 


BUREAU OF FISHEEIES. 
THE Coastal Streams op Oregon — Continued. 


Year ending 
June 30— 


Siuslaw River. 


Umpqua River. 


Coos Bay and tributaries. 


Chinook 
fry. 


Silver- 
side fry. 


steel- 
head fry. 


Chinook 
fry. 


Steel- 
head fry. 


Chinook 
fry. 


Silver- Steel- 
side fry. head fry. 


1897 


180,000 

440,275 

2,700,000 

213,500 

112,000 

389,239 

822,567 

435, 162 

1,826,531 

608,949 

729, 130 

191,267 

273,352 

594,702 

715,758 

255,028 

1,062,546 

1,472,410 

"972,395 

984,945 

529,904 

743,057 
















1898 
















1899 
















1901 




730,000 
1,136,000 
1,596,213 
1,399,860 
2,654,925 
4,903,700 
4,685,900 
2,378,853 
4,093,848 
5,686,273 
2,541,236 
1,053,510 

903,704 

1,882,985 

1,333,171 

11,216,518 

918,622 
1,402,700 
3,259,258 




235,000 
2,416,350 






1902 


214,800 






:::::::::::::;:;::::; i 


1903 .. 






.:: :::::.: 1 


1904 








4,079,274 
3,877,172 
2,744,000 
4,014,400 
3,000,000 
2,084,500 
1,683,738 
2,374,200 
1,767,170 
1,281,120 
1,331,217 
1,212,805 
"2,236,229 
2,370,000 
1,208,840 
1,932,210 






1905 ... 


311,900 

1,296,732 

1,030,486 

1,127,293 

1,092,540 

25,289 

20,693 

504,429 

627,312 

476,273 










1906 


397,355 








1907.. 








1908 










1909 . . 


98,243 




1,032,000 


222,000 


1910 




1911 . . . 


227,580 
72,097 

106,717 
17,735 

257,850 


293,996 






1912 


2,317,370 
962,528 
2,973,390 
1,551,645 
"2,492,217 
1,089,500 
1,193,960 
2,416,680 




1913 .... 


181,085 
80,000 




1914 




1915 


192,625 


1916 






1917 


153,662 
147,475 




65,200 




1918 






1919 


















Total 


16,252,717 


7,028,884 


1,177,577 


43,777,282 


620,281 


39,848,225 


16,029,290 1 414,625 



Year ending June 30— 



1877. 
1898. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Total 22,255,384 



Coquille River. 



Chinook 
fry. 



235,000 



3,084,577 
1,000,000 
2,210,000 
2,978,700 
2,840,000 
2,450,000 



Silverside 
fry. 



Rogue River and tributaries. 



Chinook. 



Fry. 



500,000 

196, 855 

496,680 

491,580 

495,333 

"1,465,321 

1,100,500 

1,219,628 

1,491,210 



226,600 
1,185,800 



980, 770 
1,672,850 

962, 528 

1,331,910 

1,365,815 

"1,451,858 

674,293 
1,098,650 
1,469,440 



12,420,514 



50, 
1,910, 
2, 156, 
2,967, 
4, 750, 
3,480, 
9,023, 
4,758, 
47, 
5,880, 
6, 597, 

771, 
1,430, 
1,364, 
9, 574, 
4, 169, 
3,752, 
4, 747, 
2, 515, 

171, 



70,118,855 



Yearlings, 

finger- 
lings, and 
adults. 



75,000 
"l70,bhl 



9,309 

2,517,892 

1,758,800 

900,750 

1,032,950 



6,464,752 



Silverside 

fry. 



128,000 
424, 530 
680,80 C 



1,250,432 



1,375,000 
158,000 
643,000 



501,081 

2,355,885 

3,198,346 

c 7, 832, 000 

2,336,359 

e 198, 103 

g 399, 700 

366,500 

592,150 



22,439,886 



Steelhead 
fry. 



65,850 
20,250 



8,073 

531,000 

12,625 

105,300 

937,680 

878,847 

89, &50 

2,592,665 

b 1,313,890 

2,795,075 

1,376,308 

d 3,908,699 

r 3,083,092 

A 561,955 

2,810,700 

807,000 



21,898,859 



" All fingerlings. 

b Includes 177,790 fingerlings, yearlings, and adults. 

c Includes 860,903 fingerlings, yearlings, and adults. 

d Includes 27,258 fingerlings. 

« Includes 9,153 fingerlings. 

/ Includes 2,583,092 fingerlings; all were planted by U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

g Includes 6,000 fingerlings. 

h Includes 128,600 flngerliugs. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



231 



Distribution of Salmon in the Coastal Streams op Oregon — Continued. 





Total. 






Chinook. 


Sllverside 
fry. 


Steelhead 
fry. 


Grand 


Year ending June 30— 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 

finger- 
lings, and 
adults. 


total, all 
species. 


1877 


50,000 








50,000 

180,000 

2,370,314 

2 700 000 


1897 


180,000 
2,370,314 
2,700,000 
2,156,945 
4,594,058 
8,415,113 
9,427,654 
20.268,809 
16.343,382 








1898 . . . . 








1 899 








1900 








2 156 945 


1901 




128,666 

639,330 
680,800 
985,220 
5,571,407 
7,260,083 
7,009,279 
4,863,048 
9,855,649 
3,561,094 
5,250,394 
10,980,722 
9,887,175 
13,725,965 
5, 253, 819 
4,272,308 
4, 150, 785 
4,448,668 
8,448,185 


65,850 
20,250 


4,787,908 
9,074,693 
10,108,454 
21 262 102 


1902 




1903 




1904 





8,073 
1,311,500 
1,443,130 
481,545 
937,680 
1,768,780 
2,399,620 
4,931,256 
2, 154, 132 
3,931,106 
2,134,631 
4,573,074 
3,083,092 
2,617.560 
2, 810, 700 
2,944,474 


1905 




23,226,289 
22,902,190 
27,7.52,571 
25, 642, ,532 


1906 


14,123,977 
20,261,747 
19,671,753 
7,626,825 
10,022,493 
10,271,366 
14,390,576 
9,668.714 
9,008,503 
12,094,770 
2, .515, 500 
9,062,097 
6,672,842 
9,283,111 


75,000 


1907 


1908 


170,051 


1909 


19,251,254 
15, 983, 207 


1910 




1911 




20 453 016 


1912 




27, 525, 430 


1913 




23,486,995 
24,869,099 
21,930,972 
20 908 410 


1914 






9,309 

11,037,510 

1,7.''-S.S00 

900, 750 

1,032,950 


1916 


1917 


17,' 589,' 242 
14,832,960 
21,708,720 


1918 


1919 






221,180,549 


14,984,370 Ilflfi.Q?!^! 


37,616,453 


380,753,303 






' ' 



The following tables show separately the total output of the 
hatcheries in Oregon owned by the United States Bureau of Fisheries 
and of those owned by the State: 

Output of Hatcheries in Oregon Owned by the U. S. Bureau op Fisheries. 





Chinook. 


Silverslde. 


Year ending June 30— 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Fingerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Fingerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 


1889 




4,500,000 
2,776,475 
4, 901,. 525 
1,332,400 
4, 100, 000 
213,000 










1890 


1,000,000 
700,000 


Ill' 


1891 


1 


1892 


1 


1893 




1 1 


1894 1 




1895 1 23, 000 




1896 1 


02,832,150 

4,922,634 

16,915,512 

4,300,200 

4,126,367 

1,669,857 

11,587,061 

5,453,860 

15,270,675 

9,822,636 

2,454,371 

8,542,104 

7,844,827 

5,021,6.55 

4, 220, 197 

5,686,168 

12,837,840 

11,291,023 

12, 156, 818 

10,434,517 

9,916,900 

634, 500 


6557, 150 


1 


1897 : 






1898 








1899 


27, 000 
1,8(K),000 
1,100,000 
1,866,000 
4,884,400 
3,113,000 

30,000 

28,200 
1,661,390 
2,045,000 
3,531,000 
3,953,992 
600,000 
8,000,000 
21,491,000 
1,075,000 

37.000 

1,000,000 

163,900 

3,000 

20,000 


1 




1900 




146, 824 


1901 


1,668 




128,000 
424,530 




1902 






1903 


250 


080, 800 




1904 


I 


1905 






1,250,432 




1906....: 


122,980 




300 


1907 






1908 


627,8.56 

2, 763 

22.5 

200,000 

750, 765 




158 000 1 S7 M2 


1909 




1,799,915 


' 


1910 






1911 




1,659,681 

2,355,885 

3,198,346 

8,441,642 

2,373,559 

488,950 

393, 700 

8,000 




1912 






1913 






1914 


602,300 

.531,351 

3, .5.50, 161 

7. afi4 .500 




27 '2. .8 


1915 


76,200 
196,000 




1916 


9 153 


1917 


92,100 
38.5,300 
594,350 


1918 


3,843,700 11.284.150 




1919 




5,325,450 














Total 


58,152,882 


189,608,972 


30,927,569 


953,000 


22,827,464 


1,166,393 





o All but 17,000 of these were from eggs received from the California stations. 
t All raised from eggs received from the California stations. 



232 



TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Output of Hatcheries in Oregon Owned by the U. S. Bureau of Fisheries — 

Continued. 





Steelhead trout. 


Total. 


Year ending June 30— 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Flngerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Fingerllngs, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 


1889 


1 






4, .500, 000 
2,776,475 
4,901,525 
1,332,400 
4,100,000 
213,000 




1890 .. .. .. . ' 


1,000,000 
700,000 




1891 ' 




1892. ' 




1893 . 






1894.. ! ' 




1895 -- 


23,000 




1896.. . 




2,832,150 
4,922,634 
16, 91.5, .512 
4,312,325 
4,372,191 
1,863,707 
12,031,841 
5,716,560 
15,293,880 
11,607,068 
3,748,856 
8,647,404 
8,955,507 
8,195,878 
6,294,385 
10,260,638 
17,198,825 
17,284,444 
22,828,468 
16,062,351 
10,905,850 
1,062,700 
3,851,700 


557, 1.50 


1897 ... 












1898 













1899 


159,000 
415, 000 
246,000 
481,000 
400,000 


12, 125 

99,000 

65, 850 

20,250 

262,700 

23, 205 

534,000 

1,294,485 

105,300 

952,680 

1,374,308 

2,074,188 

2,914,789 

2,005,100 

2,795,075 

2,230,008 

3,254,275 

500,000 

34,500 




186,000 
2,215,000 
1,346,000 
2,347,000 
5,965,200 
3,113,000 
80,000 
38,200 
1,711,390 
2,308,725 
3,582,468 
3,953,992 

600,000 

8,000,000 

21,491,000 

1,075,000 

865,200 
1,646.000 
2, 851, .500 

753,000 

545,000 




1900 






1901 


25,000 


26,668 


1902 




1903 


62, 033 
11,090 


62,283 


1904 


11,090 


1905 


50,000 
10,000 
50,000 
263, 725 
51,468 




1906 


40,383 


163.663 


1907 




1908 




685,788 


1909 




2,763 


1910 




225 


1911 ' 




200,000 




294,090 


1,044,855 


1913 ' 






629, 5.58 


1915 


752,000 
450,000 
2,687,600 
750,000 
525,000 


910,652 
2i 785, 805 

467, 450 
3,372,165 

843,000 


1,442,003 
6,351,119 




1917 


7,924,050 


1918 


15,041,615 


1919 




6,762,800 








Total 


7,290,793 


20,551,838 


8,811,668 


66,396,675 


232,988,274 


40,905,630 







Output of Hatcheries Owned by the State of Oregon. 



Year 


Chinook 
fry. 


Sllverside 
fry. 


Steelhead 
troui, fry. 


Sockeye 

fry. 


Total. 


1877 .... 


50,000 

79,620 

1,876,500 

1,834,290 

2,. 554, 290 

1,300,000 

4,500,000 

990,000 

o 792. 000 

2,500,000 

2,500,000 

2,700,000 

2, .500, 000 

7,562,000 

11,220,550 

18,502,072 

648,730,791 

16,393,249 

c27,404,,5% 

d25,156,732 

'21,209,394 

/20, 108,990 








50,000 


1878 . . 






79,620 


1879 






1, 876, 500 


1880.. 






1.834,290 


1881 






2,-554,290 


1888 






1.300,000 


1889 






4,500,000 


1890 






990,000 


1891 






792,000 


1895 








2,500,000 


1896 








2,500,000 


1899 








2,700,000 


1900 




200, (XM) 
245,000 
256, 327 
300, 850 
143, 849 
1.495,735 
1,859,(96 
376,245 




2 700,000 


1901 ... 






7,807,000 


1902 


7,9,57,000 
3,288,600 
3,974,185 
5,509,085 
7,503,655 
6,446,628 
5,359,709 
9.212,649 




19.433,877 


1903 




22,091,522 


1904 u 




52,848.825 


1905 




23.398.069 


1906 




36,767,947 


1907 




31,979,605 


1908 




26,. 569, 103 


1909 


1,403,129 




30,724,768 



Kgg.'; from which hatched obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

!> 6,8^,540 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

c7. 714,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

ri 3,550,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

< 3,020,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

f 6,581,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 



PACIFIC S.^LMON FISHERIES. '233 

OwTPUT OP Hatcheries Owned by the Statb op Oregon — Continued. 



Year. 



Chinook 
fry. 



Silverside 
fry. 



Steelhead 
trout fry. 



Sockeye 
fry. 



Total. 



1910 

1911 

1912 

1913 

1914 

191.5 

1910 

1917 

1918 

1919 

Total 



169, 36.1 
762. 229 
,077,971 
623,268 
94.5,746 
.532, 168 
120,254 
615,600 
109. 125 
732 431 



3.a31,827 
4,749,319 
9, .580, 497 
9,879,666 
5,893,965 
2,917,460 
y 4, 215, 705 
4,183,000 
4,556,207 
9,140,769 



,364,120 
,018, .598 
,3.58,742 
,136.031 
758.233 
,793,208 
,180,709 
,804,743 
,633,580 
,004,754 



<; 1,488 
< 1,9.57 
/ 1,937; 
f 1,978 



30 
30 
30: 
39 
30 
35 
(XW I '36 



327 
825 
134 
140 



* 2, 399 
«1,.526 

"13^99, 800 , '50,07 



,024 1 '38 
,823 I '37 



165,312 
018,473 
97.5,035 
576,099 
.576,084 
242, 836 
915,668 
129,367 
,030,735 
077,754 



475,153,231 



107,999.926 



34,333.549 



17,218,073 634,704,779 



o 6,465,300 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 
t> 3,9.50.000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of I'isheries. 
f 1,500,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of fisheries. 
•J 8,000,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

< 2,000,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fi.sheries. 
/ 2,491.000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisiieries. 
1 1,000,000 eggs obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

* Eggs from which hatched obtained from U. S. Bureau of Fisheries. 

< All but 490,000 were fmgerlings. 
J All but 41,500 were fingerlings. 

t 3,000,(X)0 eggs obtained from U . 8. Bureau of Fisheries. 
' Most of the output comprised of fish 4 to 9 months old. 
» 3,174,800 from ^gs obtained from Alaska, and 25,000 from dwarf sockeye eggs obtained from Montana. 

COLUMBIA RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES. 

The first fish-cultural work upon the Columbia River and in Oregon 
was at Clackamas, on the Clackanas River, a tributary of the Willam- 
ette River, which empties into the Columbia River about 180 miles 
from its mouth. 

This hatchery was built in 1876 by the Oregon & Washington Fish 
Propagating Co., which operated it until 1880. In 1887 the State 
provided for and there was appointed a State fish commission. 
Almost the first work of the commission was to spend $12,000 appro- 
priated by the legislature to put in repair and operate this hatchery. 
On July 1, 1888, it was informally turned over to the United States 
Commission of Fish and Fisheries, which paid over the purchase 
price, took formal possession in the following winter, and has oper- 
ated it ever since, with the exception of several years when the build- 
ing of dams stopped the progress of salmon to the hatchery. During 
this period a temporary station for the collection of eggs was estab- 
lished on Sandy River, about 15 miles away, and on Salmon River, 
a tributary of Sandy River, both tributaries of the Columbia River. 
Some eggs were also brought in from the California hatcheries and 
hatched at the Clackamas station. In 1901 the hatchery was moved 
about 4 miles down the river and has since been operated as botli 
a rearing and a collecting station. In 1901 the State established 
another hatchery on the Clackamas River about 30 miles below the 
main station and between the north and south forks. In 1904 all 
were turned over to the United States. In 1915 the hatchery was 
moved again. In 1907 an experimental station for the collection of 
eggs of the early variety of chinook salmon was established by the 
State of Oregon on the Clackamas River below the Portland Railway, 
Light & Power Co.'s dam at Cazadero, but this was later operated by 
the United States Bureau of Fisheries. The building of a dam having 
cut off this station, another was established in 1913 at a point 30 miles 
distant from Portland. 



234 XJ. S. BUEEAU OF FISHERIES. 

In 1889 the State established a hatchery in the cannery of F. M. 
Warren, at Warrendale, in Multnomah County, on the Columbia 
River, which was operated in that year and in 1890. 

In 1895 some of the Oregon salmon packers combined and organ- 
ized the Columbia River Packers' Propagating Co., which estab- 
lished a hatchery on the upper Clackamas Riyer at the junction of 
the Warm Springs and the Clackamas and operated it in 1895 and 
1896. The Government operated it in 1897 and 1898, after which 
it was turned over to the State and moved to the opposite side of 
the river. 

In 1898 the collection of steelhead- trout eggs was first undertaken 
on the northwest coast by the State of Oregon on Salmon River, a 
tributary of the Columbia River, and met with fair success. In 
March, 1899, the Government sent a party to the falls of the Willam- 
ette River, near Oregon City, to coUect steelhead eggs, and also 
operated for this purpose at its substation on the Salmon River, but 
the latter effort met with failure, as the rack was washed away. 
This station was turned over to the State on June 15, 1899. 

In 1901 the State of Oregon did some experimental work at Swan 
Falls, on Snake River, the boundary for a considerable distance 
between Oregon and Idaho. During the winter and early spring of 
1902 the State also worked Tucannon River, which is a tributary of 
Snake River, for steelhead, but met with- poor success. Snake 
River was worked a^ain in 1902 at the foot of Morton Island, which 
is situated 2 miles above Ontario, in Malheur (V)unty. Title to the 
necessary property was secured from the War Department in 1903 
and permanent buildings were erected. It was closed for some years 
and finally abandoned in 1911. 
. In 1901 the State of Oregon established an experimental hatchery 
in Wallowa County, on the Grande Ronde River, at the mouth of a 
small tributary called the Wenaha River, which enters the main 
stream about 50 miles from its mouth. A permanent station was 
established in the canyon about 1^ miles below the WaUowa bridge 
on the Wallowa River, a tributary of the Grande Ronde River, in 
1903. 

In 1902 the State of Ore^n erected a permanent plant on Salmon 
River at its junction with Boulder Creek. This plant was closed in 
1911. 

In the same year the State established an experimental station on 
the McKenzie River, a tributary of the Willamette River, about one- 
half mile above Vida post office. This experimental work was 
resumed in 1905 at a point 2 miles below Gate Creek. The hatchery 
was permanently established at a spot about 30 miles from Eugene 
and near the town of Leaburg a year or two later. 

In 1903 a hatchery was built by the State of Oregon on the Snake 
River near the town of Ontario, in eastern Oregon. 

In 1906 an experimental station was established by the State on 
Breitenbush Creek, a short distance above its junction with the 
Santiam River, a tributary of the Willamette River, but the plant 
was destroyed, very shortly after its establishment, by a forest fire. 
An experimental station was reestablished here in 1909, but a heavy 
freshet raised the river so high that the penned fish escaped around 
the rack. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 235 

In 1909 the State of Oregon built at Bonneville, on Tanner Creek, 
a tributar}^ of the Columbia River, a large central hatchery capable 
of handling 60,000,000 eggs, it being the intention of the State to 
hatch at this plant the eggs collected at other stations. 

In the same year a temporary hatchery was located on the Santiam 
River by the State of Oregon. 

During 1910 the State of Oregon received 1,500,000 red salmon 
eggs from the Yes Bay (Alaska) hatchery of the United States Bureau 
01 Fisheries, and yearly since they have received a consignment from 
the same source, as will be noted in the statistical tables. These were 
hatched out in the Bonneville hatchery and planted in the Columbia 
River. 

The State of Oregon built a hatchery on the Klaskanine River, a 
tributary of Youngs River, near Olney, in Clatsop County, in 1911. 
In the same year an eyeing station for spring chinooks was opened by 
the State on the Willamette River, near Lowell. 

The first entrance of Washington (then a Territory) into fish- 
cultural operations was in 1879, when the State fish commissioner 
paid the Oregon & Washington Fish Propagating Co., which was 
operating the hatchery on the Clackamas River, $2,000 for salmon 
fry deposited in that river. In 1893 the State legislature estab- 
lished a hatchery fund which was to be supplied by licenses from 
certain lines of the fishery business. In 1895 its first hatchery in 
the Columbia River Basin was built on the Kalama River, about 4 
miles distant from its junction with the Columbia, and in Cowlitz 
County. Shortly after this hatchery was built it was discovered 
that it was above where the salmon spawned, and a second hatchery 
was built 1| miles below the first named, as the rugged mountainous 
character of the country made transportation between the two sites 
difficult. Of recent years a road has been constnicted along the 
river bank, and it is probable that the upper buildings will be aban- 
doned entirely. 

Another station for the collection and eyeing of eggs was estab- 
Ushed on the Chinook River, a small stream which empties into Baker 
Bay near the mouth of the Columbia. 

During the fiscal year 1897 the United States Fish Commission 
established a station on Little White Salmon River, a stream which 
empties into the Columbia, on the Washington side, alxmt 14 miles 
a])ove the Cascades. During the fiscal year 1901 an auxiliary station 
was operated on Big White Salmon River, while fishing was carried 
on in Eagle and Tanner Creeks, in Oregon, the eggs o])tained from 
these creeks being brought to the Little White Salmon hatchery. 

In 1899 the State of Washington built and operated hatcheries 
on the Wenatchee River, a tributary of the Colum])ia River, about 
H miles from Chiwaukum Station on the Great Northern Railway, 
and on Wind River, a tributary of the Columbia, about 1 mile from 
the junction. 

In 1900 Washington State hatcheries were established in the 
Columbia River Basin as follows: White River hatchery, which was 
built on Coos Creek, which empties into a tributary of the White 
River, the location being about 2h miles from where the Green 
River joins the White River; Methow River hatchery, built on the 
Methow River at the point where it is joined by the Twisp, about 
22 miles from the Columbia River; Colville River hatchery, built 



236 



V. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



on the north bank of Colville River, about Ih miles from its mouth, 
and about 1 mile from Kettle Falls; Klickitat River hatchery, 
located on the east bank of the Klickitat River, about 6 miles from 
its mouth; and one on the Little Spokane River, about 10 miles from 
its mouth and about 9 miles north of the city of Spokane. The 
Klickitat River hatchery never was operated, while most of the 
others were operated intermittently. 

In 1906 a hatchery was established by the State of Washington 
on the Lewis River, some distance above the town of Woodland. In 
1919 this hatchery was operated by the United States Bureau of 
Fisheries. 

In 1909 the State of Washington established a hatchery near 
Pateros, on the Methow River, a tributary of the Columbia River, 
and on the Tilton. 

In 1915 Clarke County, Wash., built a hatchery on the east side of 
Cold Creek, about 2 miles from the town of Vancouver. 

A temporary station was established by the State of Washington 
on Wenatchee Lake, near Leavenworth, in 1915. 

The following table shows the plants of salmon and steelhead 
trout in the Columbia River and its tributaries by the Bureau of 
Fisheries and the States of Oregon and Washington: 

Plants op Salmon in the Columbia River and Tributaries Since 1877. 





Sockeye. 


Chinook. 


Silverside. 


Year ending June 30— 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
and adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
and adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
and adults. 


1877 






300,000 

79, 620 

3,076,500 

1,834,290 

2,554,290 

1,300,000 

4,500,000 

3, 756, 475 

5, 094, 000 

1,3.32,400 

4,100,000 

213,000 

02,523,000 

9, 832, 150 

10,641,394 

26,212,074 

19, 979, 241 

22,510,869 

24,977,310 

44, 328, 085 

40,174,313 

71,694,587 

17, 107, 217 

636,324,805 

23, 171, 235 

32, 856, 262 

33,081,994 

37, 743, 777 

28,791,095 

49,335,065 

70, 211, 177 

d81,995,039 

81,504,641 

85, &57, 635 

47,187,410 

64,929,898 

22,571,500 








1878 










1879 ' 








1880 








1881 








1888 








1889 








1890 








1891 








1892 






1893 






1894 




> 


1895 






1896 


557, 150 




1897 




1898 




1 


1899 








1900 




7,175,824 

5,559,750 

17,545,724 

8,721,720 

8,422,085 

1,354,610 

828,472 

2,657,349 

1,705,543 

2, 439, 415 

8,374,733 

el,308,900 

1,243,660 

4,591,500 

636,900 

608,747 

873,882 

1,381,915 

3,763,832 

4,205,864 




1901 


1, f.68 




1902 




1903 






1904 






1905 






1906 




47, 980 


300 


1907 






1908 - 




1,995,746 

16,949 

225 

11,700 

1,405,800 




1909 








1910 








1911 


1,488,327 
1,957,825 


' 




1912 






1913 


1, 937, 134 






1914 


1,978,140 




1,732,805 

812, 801 

8,686,789 

9,922,869 

10,383,400 

46,382,420 




1915 






1916 


4,478,362 
1,526,034 
2,731,823 
3,199,800 


1,526,024 




1917 


86,100 
18 800 


1918 




1919 


939, 960 


2^200 




Total 


19,297,435 


2, 465, 984 


1,014,082,348 


81,958,362 


78,400,425 


107, 40 J 





n Includes 23,000 eggs 
b Includes 48,200 eggs. 



c Includes 100,000 eggs. 
' Includes 1,000,000 eggs. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 237 

Plants of Salmon in the Columbia River and Tributaries Since 1877 — Contd. 





Steelhead trout. 


Chum. 


Total. 


Year ending June 30— 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
and adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
and adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
and adults. 


1877 










300,000 

79,63) 

3, 076, .500 

1,834,290 

2, ,5.54, 290 

1,. 300, 1)00 

4, 5(K), 000 

3, 756, 475 

5,694,000 

1,3.32, 400 

4, 100, 000 

213, 000 

2,523,000 

9, 832, 150 

10, Ml, 394 

26,212,074 

19,987,866 

29,985,693 

30,782,060 

62, 130, 136 

49,459,583 

80,275,653 

19,230,062 

38, 898, 388 

25,8.55,224 

34,576,805 

36,580,066 

43, 182, 198 

33,991,383 

54,030,070 

76,885,611 

86,134,417 

94,541,793 

108,917,145 

.59, .501, 804 

84,581,523 

34,851,584 




1S78 












1879 












1880 












1881 


1 








1888 


1 








1889 










1890 










1891 


1 








1S92 








1893 1 








1894 










1895 










1896., 








557 150 


1897 












1898 












1899 


8, 625 

299,000 

245,000 

256,327 

563,550 

158,981 

0768, 235 

61,745,111 

26, 640 

15,000 

al,a58,(w7 

<-2, 0(>3, (m 

1,982,331 

1,387,500 

40,000 

d932,70O 

4,128,833 

1,4.59,067 

4, 074, .330 

4, 274, 330 

4, 603, 820 











1900 










1901 








1 008 


1902 












37,033 






37,033 


1904 
















1906 


24, .383 






72 663 










1908 








1 995 746 


1909 








' 16'949 


1910 








225 






420,730 

106, 020 

105,800 

591, 638 

8,299,572 

16,448,199 

5,332,125 

8,881,640 

210, 600 




11 700 


1912 


116,300 




1 522' 160 








1914 






1 732 805 


1915 






812, 801 
10,218,813 
10 595 869 


1916 


6,000 
338, ,8.50 






248, 050 


1918 


10,402,200 
47, 920, 880 




135,500 


460, 800 






30,151,725 


658, 066 


40,396,324 


708, 850 


1,182,328,2.57 


85 89S 662 







o Includes 50,000 eggs. 
b Includes 58,000 eggs. 



c Includes 25,000 eggs. 
It Includes 79,000 eggs. 



WASHINGTON. 

Willapa River. — In 1899 Washington established a hatchery on 
Trap Creek, a tributary of the Willapa River, situated about 200 
yards from the creek's mouth. 

In 1916 local residents along the North River, a tributary of Wil- 
lapa Harbor, contributed the funds to build a salmon hatchery, and 
this was constructed and put into operation the same year. 

In 1917 a salmon hatchery was built and put into operation at 
Raymond. It is designated as Willapa Hatchery No. 2. 

in 1918 some fishermen and public-spirited citizens of this section 
contributed the money for the building of a State hatchery on the 
Nasel River, a tributary of Willapa Harbor. 

Chehalis River, — The construction of a hatchery on the Chehalis 
River, about 4 miles above the city of Montesano, was begun by the 
State in October, 1897, but owing to bad weather and extreme high 
water was not completed until late in 1898. The hatchery was a 
failure until 1902 wnen a fair season was had, as was again true in 
1903. It was not operated in 1904. Since the State began taking 



238 tr. s. BUREAU of fisheries. 

eggs from the Satsop River, a tributary of the Chehahs, it has been 
possible to fill the hatchery each season. 

In 1909 the site where eggs had been gathered on the Satsop River 
was purchased, and a new hatchery was erected there. It has three 
concrete rearing ponds and is fully equipped for the taking of spawn 
and the hatching out and caring for 5,000,000 fry. This plant was 
first operated in the fall of 1909. 

Work was begun in September, 1914, by the United States Bureau 
of Fisheries on a hatching station on Lake Quinault, Wash., and a take 
of eggs was made the same year. 

In lieu of installing fishways in their dams in the Humptulips 
River and tributaries, in the Grays Harbor section, two timber firms 
agreed to furnish the money needed to build a hatchery on Stevens 
Creek, west of Humptulips, and the same was constructed and put 
into operation in October of 1914. The plant is now the property of 
the State. 

In 1917 a hatchery was built by the State on Chehalis River near 
Dryad, with money contributed by two lumber companies in lieu of 
building fishway over a dam. 

Puget Sound and tributaries. — In 1896 the State established a hatch- 
ery oil Baker Lake, which is the head of Baker River, a tributary of 
the Skagit River, and this was the first establishment for the hatch- 
ing of sockeye salmon. In July, 1899, it was sold to the United States 
Fish Commission. In 1901 steelhead trout eggs were collected on 
Phinney Creek, about 5 miles from the town of Birdsview, and some 
30 miles from Baker Lake. In 1901 an auxiliary station was opened 
at Birdsview, on Skagit River, and steelhead trout eggs were col- 
lected on Phinney and Grandy Creeks and brought to Baker Lake to 
be hatched. 

In 1898 a private hatchery (the necessary money being raised by 
subscription among the residents of Fairhaven, now Bellingham, and 
vicinity) was built near Lake Saniish, a few miles from Fairhaven. 

In 1899 a hatchery was built by the State on Kendall Creek, a 
tributary of the Nooksack River, about 300 yards from same, and 
about 2 miles from the railway station of Kendall. Except in 1903, 
this hatchery has since been operated continuously. An eyeing sta- 
tion was built in 1907 on the south fork of the Nooksack River, about 
1 mile from Acme. This hatchery is now used as a reserve station. 

In the same year the State built a hatchery on the Skokomish 
River, about 4 miles from its mouth. An eyeing station was also 
erected on the north fork of the same river. The main station was 
not operated in 1904 and only on a small scale in 1903 and 1905. 

The State in 1889 built a hatchery on Friday Creek, a tributary 
of the Samish River, situated about 1 mile from the mouth of the 
creek. 

The following State hatcheries were first operated in 1900: Snoho- 
mish hatchery, built on the west bank of Skykomish River, a few 
miles from its mouth ; Nisqually River hatchery, built on Muck Creek, 
about one-half mile fron the Nisqually River, and about 4 miles 
from the town of Roy, in Pierce County; and the Stillaguamish hatch- 
ery, located on the Stillaguamish River, about 4 miles from the town 
of' Arlington, in Snohomish County. The latter has since been 
moved to Jim Creek, a tributary of the south branch of the Stilla- 
guamish River. It is merely used as an eyeing station now. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 239 

The Startup hatchery, located near Startup, on the Skykomish 
River, was formerly used as a collecting station for the Snohomish 
hatchery. It is still used for this purpose, but also retains and 
hatches a considerable quantity of spawn. The station is about 4 
miles from the Snohomish hatchery. In 1918 it was rebuilt and now 
bears the name of Skykomish hatchery 

In 1900 the State established a fisheries experimental station at 
Keyport Landing, on the east arm of Port Orchard Bay, with Pearson 
as the nearest post office. The work of the station was devoted to 
salmon and oysters until it was abandoned a few years later. 

The State established a hatchery on the Dungeness River, about 7 
miles from the town of Dungeness, in Clallam County, in 1901. In 
1906 it constructed a hatchery on a small tributary of the Skagit 
River, between Hamilton and Lyman. This was destroyed in 1917 
by floods. The station built on Sauk River, a tributary of the Skagit, 
has been operated only occasionally since the Skagit hatchery was 
built. 

The White River hatchery was constructed on Suice Creek, a trib- 
utary of Green River, some years ago. During the summer of 1909 
a new hatchery was built at this station, the old one being too small 
to accommodate the amount of spawn that could be taken. The new 
hatchery is located on the east side of Suice Creek near the county 
road. The building contains 140 hatching troughs. The plant has 
a pond system, where the fry are kept and fed until they are able to 
shift for themselves. 

Dicing the summer of 1911 the city of Tacoma constructed a large 
concrete dam in the Green River, about 4 miles west of Eagle Gorge. 
As this dam prevented the salmon from reaching the spawning beds, 
the State established an eyeing station the same year just below 
the dam. In 1913 the name was changed to Green River hatchery, 
to conform to the name of the main stream. 

In 1912 the LTnited States Bureau of Fisheries completed the Quil- 
cene and Duckabush hatcheries. Both are on small tributaries enter- 
ing the west side of Hoods Canal, an arm of Puget Sound. 

In 1913 a new station was operated by the Bureau on the Duse- 
wallips River, a tributary' of Hoods Canal, Puget Sound, near Brin- 
non. Two new field stations — on ElweU River, a tributary of the 
Skykomish River, near Sultan, and on Sauk River, a tributary of the 
Skagit River, near Harrington — were also put into operation the 
same year. The Sauk River had been worked by the State at one 
time. 

In 1913 the Middle Fork Nooksak eyeing station was transformed 
into a hatchery. In the same year the eyeing station on the south 
fork was moved farther up the river. 

In 1914 stations were established by the United States Bureau of 
Fisheries on Day Creek and Illabot Creek, tributaries of the Skagit 
River, while a substation was opened on Hamahama River at Eldon, 
distant about 9 miles up Hood Canal from the mouth of the Ducka- 
bush River. 

On May 23, 1914, the Baker Lake hatchery building was destroyed 
by fire. In addition to the building and equipment, 1,305,820 silver 
fry and 823,097 sockeye fry were destroyed. The station was rebuilt 
but was burned down again in 1919. It has since been rebuilt. 



240 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



In 1915 the State built a hatchery on the Pilchuck River, a tribu- 
tary of the Skykomish River, near Granite Falls. 

In lieu of building a fishway in its dam on the Elwha River, near 
Port Angeles, the Olympic Power Co. furnished the funds needed to 
build a hatchery below the dam, and this was opened by the State 
in 1915. 

In 1916 the city of Tacoma furnished funds to build a hatchery in 
lieu of a fish ladder over the Nisqually power plant dam, and the 
hatchery was constructed by the State at Chambers Prairie and 
opened in 1916. It is known as the Chambers Creek hatchery. 

In 1917 a new hatchery was established by the State at Or ting, on 
the Puyallup River, while in 1918 an eyeing station was established 
at Tahuya, on Hoods Canal, near the Skokomish hatchery. 

In 1919 the Nisqually hatchery was destroyed by floods. 

The following tables show the total output of the salmon hatcheries 
in the State of Washington owned by the United States Bureau of 
Fisheries and the hatcheries owned by the State itself: 

Output of the Salmon Hatcheries in Washington Owned by the U. S. Bureau 

OF Fisheries. 





Chinook. 


Soclieye, or blueback. 


Silver, or coho. 


Year end- 
ing June 
30— 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 

linss, 

yearlings, 

and 

adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Finger- 
lings, 
yearlings, 
and 
adults. 


1897 




1,848,760 
7,391,886 
1,791,056 
6,626,947 
5,427,680 
















1898 


















1899 


4,926,000 
2,686,000 
6,581,000 
















1900 






10,683,000 
3,834,453 
3,371,000 
3,731,789 
3,855,000 
7,819,281 
3,285,130 
4,224,255 
8,514,305 
5,430,(126 
4,554,825 
5,496.000 
4,692,573 
5,751,700 
2,583,469 
10,820,441 
15,737,420 
11,861,825 
3,62.5,000 
1,000,000 










1901 . . 










i74,64i 




1902 


15,637,687 
16,774,030 
17, 386, 183 

4,236,276 
14,846,905 

6,512,738 
12,372,503 
11,565,553 

9,175,610 

7,307,455 
10,959,728 
19,933,300 
31,140,440 
38, 162, 139 
38,012,864 
14,969,904 

2,185,218 












1903 












81,812 
3,984,645 
8,071,081 
6,445,574 
3,636,952 
13,252,714 
7,661,110 
10,888,025 
4,550,615 
10,599,939 
10,754,617 
13,591,354 
20,673,056 
5,466,334 
3,960,000 
972,300 
7,544,020 




1904 


7,506,000 










1905 








10,000 
9,500 


107,000 
239, 180 
760,000 
296,000 
272,000 
275,000 
102,000 
52,000 
102,000 




1906 


7,714,000 
3,550,000 
1,485,000 
3,650,000 
3,813,250 
3,350,000 
8,020,000 
19,713,000 
4,584,000 
4,998,000 




880,000 




1907 




1908 


1,537,941 
14,186 


75,000 
100,000 






1909 




1910 






1911 


ii,766 

655,095 








1912 








1913 








1914 


1,130,505 

987,495 

7,488,270 

5,865,226 

41 202 r>94 


50,000 
155,000 


120,000 
46,575 
2,666,308 
2,145,953 
12,705,285 
15,799,960 




1915 

1916 


35,000 
2,500 


4i,566 

1,460,354 


1917 






4,559,860 

10,118,815 

697,380 


1918 


3,150,000 
960, 000 






1919 


389, 002j 18^474 ,'900 










Total. 


86,686,250 


294,653,864 77,368,012 


1,200,000 


120,872,092 


33,503,581J2,242,6S0 


132,318,189 


16,877,909 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



241 



Output of the Salmon Hatcheries in Washington Owned by the U. S. Bureau 
OF Fisheries — Continued. 



Year ending June 30- 



1900. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
190S. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Humpback. 



Eggs. 



Fry. 



176,597 



2,000 969,990 



Fingerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 



Steelhead trout. 



502,000 6,764,702. 



13,260,000 

"'7,066,' 666 



Total. 



1,368,000 

96,000 

2,560,325 

1,8S0 

21,114,023 

6, 929,. 500 

6,106,400 

165,000 

2,l;52,831 

2,354,500 



20,764,000 50,745,! 



4,3.55 



2,915, 

7,449, 

3,736, 

369, 



80,000 
2.55,000 
414,400 
348, 000 
200, (K)0 
224,000 
220, 000 
300,000 
6(i0,000 
905,000! 

1,330,000; 
729,000' 
12.), 000; 

1,040,000, 
.5.50,000' 

320,onoi 

250, 000 ; 



Fry. 



26, 

110, 

440, 

70, 

3, 

.540, 

941, 

136, 

717, 

1,437, 

911, 

2,284, 

1,477, 

1,792, 

2,008, 

341, 

1,979, 

103, 



Fingerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 



223,815 



1,37,665 

891,000 

1,42-1,000 

3,482,620 

305, (KX) 



14,474,343 7,950,400 15,320,208 6,464,100 





Chum. 


Total. 


Year ending June 30 — 


Fry. 


Fingerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adiuts. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Fingerlings, 
yearlings, 
and adults. 


1897 








1,848,760 
7,391,886 
1,791,056 
17,3.35,947 
9,4.3f;,174 
19,118,687 
21,027,631 
25,472,42.5 
20, 129, 843 
26, 087, .599 
1.5, 31,5, 4.50 
41,051,200 
2.5,374,980 
27,423,498 
18,430,720 
33,597,880 
57,397,647 
78,894,4,51 
114, 098, .541 
87, 165,. 562 
47,33'.*, 039 
18,910,494 
15, 831, ,522 




1898 








1899 ' 


4,926,000 
2, (-,86, 000 
6, -581, 000 




1900 ' 




1901 t 




1902 




1903 1 


80,000 
7,761,000 
,521,400 
9, 18:5, 180 
4,510,IKX) 
2,582,000 
•1,242,000 
4,. 388, 250 
4,112,000 
8,977,000 
21,14.5,000 
18,623,000 
5,313,000 
8,042,500 
550,000 
3,470,000 
1,210,000 


223,815 


1904 


1905 


10,000 
9 ,500 


1906 




1907 






1908 . . . . ... 




1 ,537 941 


1909 




14 186 


1910 


1 




1911 


69,000 
2,495,000 




11 700 


1912 




655' 095 


1913 


19,479,000 
8,672,735 
35,504,707 
21,500,94-1 
14,403,300 
9,892,145 
4,544,000 






1914 




1,2.54 860 


1915 




1 213 235 


1916 


1,000,000 
7,014, .580 


16,420,932 
28,4.58,649 
71,245,414 


1917 


1918 


1919 


4, .524, 560 


40,171,758 






Total 


116,560,831 


12,539,140 


118, 90.3, .330 


730,.|7i>.992i 161,227,085 



11312°— 21- 



-16 



242 



TT. S. BUREAU OF FISHERTES. 



Output op the Salmon Hatcheries Owned by the State of Washington." 



Year ending 
.Tune 30— 



1896. 

1897. 



1899.. 
1900.. 
1901 . . 
1902.. 
1903.. 
1904... 
1905... 
1906... 
1907.. 
1908.. 
1909... 
1910... 
1911... 
1912... 
1913... 
1914... 

1915 b. 

1916 d. 

1917 «. 

1918 /. 

1919 f.. 



Chinook 
fry. 



500,000 
050,000 
275,000 
595,000 
251,600 
275,400 
766,822 
283, 499 
261, 184 
101,180 
943,550 
897,670 
647,600 
440,950 
168,350 
458,502 
380, 516 
542,928 
529,709 
784,092 
239,092 
228, 979 
175,074 
773,506 



Total 529, 570, 203 296, 190, 529 



Chum fry. 



10,301,760 
16,478,280 
9,937,390 
9,937,390 



3, 268, 800 
6, 120, 000 
4,342,350 
8,218,000 
8,607,500 
13,326,750 
4,684,950 
14,711,400 
7, 842, 266 
27,458,665 
41. ..890, 354 
15,086,648 
71,750,001 
22,228,025 



Hump- 
back fry. 



295,200 



2,055,900 
"'519,' 600" 



370,785 



1,532,737 

578, 504 

5,902,227 



6,086,256 



Silver, or 
echo, fry. 



189,000 
,778,280 
,747,894 
,964,593 
,659,079 
,725,196 
226,294 
,9.16,380 
,668,600 
273, 202 
,543,200 
, 894, 100 
097,750 
, 104, 125 
, 263, 290 
,494,380 
,169,474 
,877,396 
,842,775 
,660,603 
,220,087 



17,941,209 586,365,698 19,646,147 



Sockeye, 
or blue- 
back, fry. 



5,500,000 
5,400,000 



49,792 

62,631 

607,979 

808,455 

(7 6,671,770 

645,520 



Steelhead- 
trout fry. 



1,736,560 
1,398,476 
2,481,371 
3,134,076 
3,868,866 
2,433,635 
2,769,784 
3,575,943 
4,578,075 
4,080,450 
4,855,000 
5, 163, 180 
4,832,067 
9,089,250 
3,601.514 
3, 457, 130 
9,984,852 



10,250,532 
7,993,452 



Total, 



4,500,000 
9,550,000 
9,675,000 
8,784,000 
38,068,200 
49,900,050 
60, 150, 176 
56,014,044 
33,150,446 
21,761,109 
45,888,514 
47, 262, 213 
59,497,127 
54,282,600 
66,044,550 
68,046,182 
70,432,443 

104, 606, 868 
82,050,398 

131,510,496 

145,501,900 
55,966,857 

223,494,236 
92,860,590 



89,284,213 1,538,997,999 



a As the printed reports of the State before 1913 in many instances report as the output the number of 
eggs gathered, it has been necessary in such cases to make an arbitrary reduction from these figures, in 
order to allow for the loss in the egg stage. In addition to figures in table, in 1916, 13,424.362; in 1918, 
6,745,823; and in 1919, 12,351,780 dwarf sockcyes were hatched and planted In waters of the State. 

6 A considerable proportion of the fry was fed in rearing ponds for some time before planting. 

c 29,900 eggs were distributed in addition. 

d Year ends Nov. 30, 1916. 

e Period from Nov. 30, 1916, to Mar. 31, 1917. 

/ Year ending Mar. 31. 

gin addition 6,000,000 eggs were furnished by the U. S. Burean of Fisheries. 

The following table shows the plantings made in waters of Wash- 
ington other than the Columbia Kiver by the United States Bureau 
of Fisheries and the State of Washington : 

Plants op Salmon in the Waters of Washington Other Than the Columbia 

River. 



Year ending .June 30 — 



1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



I'uget Sound and tributaries. 



Chinook 



Fry. 



7,470,000 



300,000 
,141,322 
113,850 
865,933 
590,738 
819,290 
907,598 
356, 709 
647, 288 
681,060 
984,482 
646, 254 
561,328 
392,826 
222, 734 
022, 439 
890, 383 
318,366 
244, 102 



Total 201,176,702 2,160,367 96,202, 



YeTirlings, 
fingerlings, 
or adults. 



802, 795 
750, 612 
411,060 
195, 900 



Sockeye. 



Fry. 



500,000 
400,000 



683,000 
834, 453 
371,000 
731, 789 
855,000 



3,573,130 



514,305 
430, 626 
554,825 
496,000 
692,573 
751,700 
683, 261 
371, 056 
897, 420 
520, 280 
696, 750 
645,520 



Yearlings, 
fuigerlings, 
or adults. 



9,500 



b 120,000 



520 
2,093,000 
9,319,275 
8,622,000 



Silver, or coho. 



Fry. 



189,000 
6, 749, 2S0 
14,360,18.5 
23,161,069 
21, 507, 771 
14,071,845 
16,441,375 
29,755,574 
26,960,552 
37, 613, 466 
28,622,310 
36, ,837, 125 
29,941,865 
39, 788, 614 
56, 128, 207 
42,213,911 
74,505,147 
42, 696, 932 
6, 227, 775 
29, 249, 710 
12, 285, 222 



20,164,295 589,306,935 



Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
or adults. 



14,840 



1, 455, 490 
4, 560, 160 
6,845,11) 
2,864,980 



15,740,885 



a Tnc1ude.<i .50.000 Baas. 



6 Ail floeerliDes. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



243 



Plants of Salmon in the Waters op Washington Other Than the Columbia 

RivER^ — Continued. 





Puget Sound and tributaries. 


Year endinp June 30— 


Humpback. 


Chum. 


Steelhead. 




Fry. 


Yearlings, 
flngerlings, 
or adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
fingerlings, 
or adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
fingerlings, 
or adults. 


1900 






10,301,760 
16,478,280 
9,937,390 
9,937,390 




1,572,560 
1,398,476 
2,591,371 
3,107,891 
3,518,476 

a 1,. 329, 940 
3, 162, 174 
3, 964, 308 
4, 566, 491 

6 4,499,141 
6, 292, 338 




1901 










1902 










1903 . 








218,200 


1904 


471,797 






1905 










1906 


969, 990 
4, 224, 255 
9,420,662 




i, 800, 666 
5, 220, 000 
2, 27K, .350 
6,048,000 
7, 748, 500 
12,074,060 
3,526,170 
31,408,960 
15, 535, 046 
51,852,050 
41,541,949 
12,955,800 
52,674,752 
21,480,325 




15,000 


1907 






1908 








1909 








1910 


1,887,600 

96,000 

5,432,110 

1,888 

22,647,060 

7,508,004 

12,005,627 

165, 000 

8, 219, 086 

2,354,000 








1911 






4,841,330 
c 6, 732, 805 
9,731,400 
4,444,271 
4, 925, 555 
5, 102, 566 
1,979,010 
4,851,092 
3, 152, 452 




1912 






1,000 


1913 








1914 


d4,355 






1915 






1916 


2,918,000 

7, 449, 0.30 

4,736,000 

369, 95s 


1,000,000 
6,766,530 


891,000 


1917 


1,420,500 


1918 


3,520,420 


1919 


4,063,760 






Total 


75,403,079 


15,477,343 


312, 798, 782 


11,830,290 


81,763,647 


6, 066, 120 







Quinault Lake and River. 




Chinook. 


Sockeye. 


Silverside. 




Year ending June 30— 


Fry. 


Yearl- 
ings, fin- 
gerUngs, 
or adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
fingerlings, 
or adults. 


Fry. 


Yearlings, 
fingerlings, 
or adults. 


Steel- 
head 
fry. 


1915 


19, 913 
29,600 
IfJO, 000 
220, 000 
la), 000 




3, 558, 591 
13, 840, 000 
11,150,000 
2, 500, 000 
1,000,000 




198, 966 

96, 650 

1,910,000 

200,000 

600,000 




10, 598 


1916 


4,810 


2,665,788 

52, 953 

3,. 386, 010 

4,738,000 


4,864 




1917 




1918 




3,303,700 
419,400 




1919 


109,400 








Total 


529, 513 


114,210 


32,048,591 


10,842,751 


3,005,616 


3, 727, 964 


10,598 





Year 


Chehalis River. 


Willapa River. 


ending 
June 30— 


Chinook. 


Silver, or 
coho. 


Chum. 


Steel- 
head. 


Chinook. 


Sil\ er, or 
coho. 


Chura. 


Steel- 
head. 


1899 


1,215,000 
2, 355, 300 
1,909,8(X) 








1 






1900 








881,000 






190,000 


1901 








653, 400 

2,163,019 

819,504 

630,000 

529, 650 

393, 660 

678,600 

322,200 

455, 200 

734,350 

748,600 

729,600 

3,247,345 

302,461 

2,570,105 

2, 178, 185 

5,411,725 

1,460,206 








1903 








1,800,000 

204,. S7C. 

1,800,000 

2, 160, 000 

2, 2.50, COO 

6.54,500 

504,000 

64,000 

2,4.57,900 

3,111,750 

1,380,000 

1,78.5, .580 

581,730 

108, 5.50 

595, 000 

1,809,901 

372,500 




500,000 


1904 


900,000 










420,390 
288, 000 


1905 . .. 










1906 




2, .5&3, 380 
2, 2.50, 000 
3, 275, 000 
1,800,000 
1,577,000 
4,011,900 
3,575,700 
1, 690, 200 
2, 977, 260 
4, 790, 474 
6,811,315 
120, 000 
12,275,990 
6,017,655 


1,468,800 

900, 000 

2,064,000 

1,757,000 

859, 000 

900, 960 

1,052,760 

3, 177, 680 

497, 300 

1,230,000 

4.218,930 

2; 590, 000 

17,725,949 

4,763,000 






171,550 


1907 . .. 




. 




526, 500 


1908 


16;i,000 
148, 000 
403,000 
111,150 
118,750 
119,700 
139,000 
73,337 
854, 170 
495,350 
2,978,288 
279,200 






148,500 


1909 






399,000 


1910 








1911 


937,500 
93, 7.52 
4 12, .WO 
701,118 
551,302 
638. 733 




300,000 


1912 




303,825 


1913 




382, 500 


1914 




248, 555 


1915 

1916 


1,5.81,750 
1,181,720 


105,440 


1917. .' .. 




1918 

1919 


967, 975 
1,847,400 


2,359,805 
318, 100 


771,600 
197, 060 


Total . . 


12,263,045 


53,765,874 


43,205,379 


6, 150, 280 


24,908,810 21,646,287 


5,441,375 


4,952,920 



1 Includes 14,400 eggs. 
'■ Includes 100,000 eggs. 



c Includes 25,000 eggs. 
<*A11 fingerlings. 



244 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Plants of Salmon in the Waters of Washington Other Than the Columbia 

River — Continued. 



Year ending June 
30— 



1878. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Total by species. 



Chinook. 



03,000 



8,685,000 
3,236,300 
2,863,200 
2,141,322 
4, 276, 869 
3,585,437 
3, 220, 738 
5,348,940 
4,301,258 
9,198,309 
10,117,488 
12,539,260 
5,829,982 
5, 513, 604 
8,410,628 
10, 779, 171 
15, 618, 445 
26, 283, 919 
30, 474, 530 
44,339,439 
24,388,808 



Total 241, 155, 647 159, 258, 325 1687, 193, 561 



Sockeye. 



5,500,000 
5,400,000 



10,683,000 
3,834,453 
3,371,000 
3, 731, 789 
3,855,000 



3,582,630 



8, 514, 305 
5, 430, 626 
4, 554, 825 
5, 496, 000 
4, 692, 573 
5,751,700 
2,803,261 
10, 929, 647 
18, 403, 728 
14,816,233 
22,902,035 
15,005,520 



Silver, or 
coho. 



189, 000 
6, 749, 280 
14,360,185 
23,161,069 
23, 307, 771 
14, 276, 721 
18,241,375 
34, 493, 794 
31, 460, 552 
41,542,966 
30,926,310 
38,478,125 
36, 441, 665 
46, 476, 064 
59,204,407 
46, 976, 751 
80,076,317 
51,173,801 
13, 413, 235 
53,684,416 
22, 559, 757 



Hump- 
back. 



471,797 



969, 990 
4,224,255 
9,420,662 



1, 887, 600 
96,000 

5,432,110 

1,888 

22,651,415 

7,508,004 
14,923,627 

7,614,030 
12,955,086 

2,723,958 



90,880,422 



Chum. 



Steelhead. 



10,301,760 
16, 478, 280 
9,937,390 
9,937,390 



3, 268, 800 

6,120,000 

4,342,350 

7, 805, 000 

8, 607, 500 

12,975,020 

4, 578, 930 

34, 586, 640 

16,032,346 

54,663,800 

47, 942, 599 

22, 312, 330 

72, 760, 506 

30, 625, 185 



373,275,826 



1,762,560 
1,398,476 
2,591,371 
3,826,091 
3,938,866 
1, 617, 940 
3,348,724 
4,490,808 
4,714,991 
4, 898, 141 
6,292,338 
6,078,830 
7,131,382 

10,526,400 
5,393,944 
5,592,895 
6, 632, 299 
3, 399, 510 

10,111,087 
5,196,912 



98,943,565 



Grand 
total. 



3,000 
5,500,000 
5,400,000 
8,871,000 
32, 732, 900 
38,934,594 
41,202,1,52 
45, 079, 910 
26,127,821 
23,080,053 
51,012,878 
50, 596, 873 
77,733,583 
59, 177, 565 
72,359,648 
66,917,497 
73,824,663 
118,481,663 
104,636,888 
174,389,108 
165,359,973 
92,029,868 
216, 752, 569 
100, 500, 140 



1,650,707,346 



o These were brought from the Clackamas (Oreg.) station and planted in some unnamed lake. 
BRITISH COLUMBIA. 

Fraser River.— The first hatchery established by the Dominion of 
Canada on the Pacific coast was erected in 1884 at what is now Bon 
Accord, a point on the lower river some 4 miles above New West- 
minster, and on the opposite shore. The next built was in 1901 on 
Granite Creek, Shuswap Lake, which discharges into the Fraser 
through the South Thompson River, the lake being about 280 niiles 
from New Westminster. In 1904 another hatchery was established 
on Harrison Lake on the Lillooet River, first large tributary of the 
Fraser on the north side; also one about 4 miles east of the lower 
extremities of Pemberton Meadows, at the junction of Owl Creek 
and the Birkenhead River, 4 miles above its confluence with the 
eastern branch of the Lillooet River, which in turn discharges into 
Lillooet Lake. In 1907 a hatchery was built on Stuart Lake, near 
the headwaters of the Fraser. 

In 1914 the Bon Accord hatchery had to be abandoned, due to the 
laying out of a town site around it, and the equipment was transferred 
to Queen's Park, New Westminster. 

The Province of British Columbia owns Seton Lake hatchery, 
which was established in 1903 on Lake Creek, on the north side, 
about half a mile from the outlet of Seton Lake, and it has been 
operated continuously ever since. Seton Lake is a part of the Fraser 
River chain and is some 300 miles above the mouth of the river. 
Lake Creek, the outlet of Seton Lake, empties into the Cayoosh 
Creek, a tributary of the Fraser, 45 miles north of the latter's junction 
with the Thompson, and 1 mile south of the town of Lillooet. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 245 

In 1916 a subsidiary station was built by the Dominion on Cultus 
Lake to accommodate the surplus eggs which could not be handled 
in the Harrison and Pemberton hatcheries. 

In 1913, the year of the quadriennially big run of sockeye salmon 
on the Fraser Kiver, the contractors who were building the new 
Canadian Northern Railway, in blasting their way along the banks 
of the river, threw the rock and other debris into the stream until 
in the narrow part of the canyon south of North Bend at Whites 
Creek, Hells Gate, China Bar, and Scuzzy Rapids, all within a few 
miles of each other, the debris formed great sloping banks extending 
out into the stream at these points, and entirely changed the direction 
of the currents, and, of course, the velocity of the water. At best the 
salmon had a hard time getting through there, but the added obstruc- 
tions rendered it practically impossible. 

At a rather late hour the authorities woke up to the menace this 
work was to the run of salmon, and the dumping of debris into the 
river in such a manner as to obstruct their ascent was stopped. 

How to clear the stream once more was now the problem, and this 
was seriously complicated by a slide of rock which took place in 
Hells Gate in February, 1914, which narrowed the channel of the 
stream considerably. 

In March, 1914, the Dominion Marine and Fisheries Department 
contracted with a private concern to remove the obstructions, and 
this was done from Scuzzy Rapids, China Bar, and Wliites Creek 
within a short period of time, but a couple of seasons' work were 
required to clear up Hells Gate so as to permit of passage for the fish. 
Some people claim that the fish still rind it difficult to pass these 
obstructi/ons. 

Rivers Inlet. — A hatchery was established by the Dominion on 
McTavish Creek, one of the tributaries of Oweekayno Lake, about 
20 miles up Rivers Inlet, in 1905, and has been operated ever since. 

Skeena River. — In 1902 the Dominion established a hatchery on 
Lakelse Lake, in the Skeena River Basin, about 65 miles up the 
river from Port Essington. In 1919 a modern hatchery was com- 
menced to replace the old one that was put out of commission by 
floods in 1917. In 1907 another was constructed on Babine Lake, 
the source of the Skeena River. 

Vancouver Island. — In 1902 S. A. Spencer, of the Alert Bay cannery 
(now belonging to the British Columbia Packers' Association), in 
return for certain special fishery privileges granted by the Dominion, 
established a hatchery on the Nimpkisli River, which is located on 
the northeast shore oi Vancouver Island. The hatchery was burned 
down in 1903, but was immediately rebuilt. Since its establishment 
it has been operated by the Dominion. 

In 1910 the Dominion put three new hatcheries into operation, 
all on Vancouver Island. They were located on Anderson Lake, 
Kennedy Lake, and Cowichan Lake, respectively. The two former 
are used for sockeyes and the latter for king and coho salmon and 
steelhead and other varieties of trout. 

In 1915-16 the Draney Fisheries (Ltd.), operated a hatchery on 
a lake near by and hatched out 560,000 fry from eggs obtained ifrom 
Rivers Inlet. 



246 



TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



The following table shows the plantings made in the waters of 
British Columbia from the Dominion and provincial hatcheries: 

Plants of Salmon Fry Made in the Waters op British Columbia. 



Year. 



1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1891. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1896. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1902 i 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917' 
1918 ' 
1919. 



Total. 



Fraser River.o 



Chum. 



Coho, c 
silver. 



75,000 



1,100,000 
"12.5,066 



5,256,000 
378, 000 
383, 000 



90,000 
1,750,000 

210, 0(K) 
5, 576, 100 
4,774,000 
3,219,200 
5, 890, 000 
7, 375, 400 

450,000 
5,318,800 
3, 899, 500 
1,995,600 
1,522,000 
2,196,000 
1,652,000 
1,971,900 
1,729,800 
1, 800, 625 



7,317,000 51,420,925 



Spring, or 
king. 



Hump- 
back. 



4,381, 
1,791, 
1,814, 
2,815, 
5, 772, 
6,300, 
2, 129, 
5, 962, 
4,533, 
50, 
2,614, 
2,540, 
1,645, 
2, 763, 
2, 291, 



50,000 



22,500,000 



28,773,350 

'""566,' 666' 



c 3,834,000 

4,788,000 

13,940,100 

40, 000 



47,426,850 74,425,450 868,137,025 



Sockeye. 



1,800,000 

2,62.5,000 

4,414,000 

5,807,000 

4,419,000 

6, 640, 000 

3, 603, 800 

6,000,000 

5,674,000 

6,300,000 

6, 390, 000 

10,393,000 

5,928,000 

5,850,000 

4,742,000 

6,200,000 

15,808,000 

12,521,000 

13, 729, 200 

9, 244, 300 

100,479,000 

36, 965, 900 

51,855,200 

41,909,500 

105,312,500 

24,146,300 

34, 183, 850 

41,062,700 

92,308,000 

27,496,000 

^67, 201, 000 

27,903,600 

37,153,350 

/42, 071, 825 



Steelhead 
trout. 



75,000 
'i2,"666 

"'4,' 666 



30,000 



121,000 1,048,848,250 



Year. 



1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Skeena River. 



Hump- 
back. 



Total. 



16,000 



Sockeye. 



3,450,000 
4,000,000 
3, 767., 900 
3,784,450 
4,125,750 
8,946,950 
11,882,400 
;11,521,700 
12,, 556, 470 
12,367,500 
11,4.30,430 
11,843,200 
11,899,613 
11,202,257 
12.105,000 
8,190,000 
8,096,000 



16,000 151,169,620 151,185,620 



Total. 



3,450,000 
4,000,000 
3,767,900 
3,784,450 
4,125,750 
8,946,950 
11,882,400 
11,, 521, 700 
12,556,470 
12,367,500 
11,430,430 
11,843,200 
11,915,613 
11.202,2,57 
12,105,000 
8,190,000 
8,(;96,000 



Rivers Inlet. 



Spring, or 
king. 



4,706,000 



4,706,000 



Sockeye. 



8,000,000 
8,440,000 
8,594,000 
13,300,000 
12, 750 ,'000 
11,436,000 
11,791,000 
10,981,000 
12,397,000 
12,712,000 
12,594,100 
13,305,600 
2,721,600 
2,908,800 



141,931,100 



Total. 



8,000,000 
8,440,000 
13,300,000 
13,300,000 
12,750,000 
11,436,000 
11,791,000 
10,981,000 
12,397,000 
12,712,000 
12,594,100 
13,305,600 
2,721,600 
2,908,800 



146,637,100 



o Some of the reports from the provincial hatchery at Seton Lake show merely the take of eggs; it has 
been necessary to make an arbitrary reduction in order to show the loss of eggs and fry before planting. 

b No plants made in 1901. 

c 3,549,000 were eggs. 

d 3,242,000 were eggs. 

t All were given as eggs, and an arbitrary reduction was made in order to show the loss in eggs and fry 
before planting. 

/ 500,000 were eggs; of the eggs from which the total plantings were made, 8,096,000 were obtained from 
the Skeena River. 

p Includes 80,000 coho fry. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 247 

Plants op Salmon Fry Made in the Waters op British Columbia — Continued. 



Year. 



1911. 
1912. 
19 W. 
1914. 
1915. 
1910. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Vancouver Island. 



Chum. 



40,000 



Total. 



40,000 



Coho, or 
silver. 



4,5.'iO,0OO 
3,4K7,.500 
3,1X0,000 
2,2r)2,000 
2,229,220 
1,689,826 
1,426,860 
2,200,410 
2, 152, 194 



23, 168, 010 



Spring, or 
king. 



425, 
45(1, 
712, 
701, 
250, 
576, 

1,209, 
418, 

o431, 



5, 181, 810 



Sockeye. 



Steelhead. 
trout. 



7,862,000 145,200 



Total. 



13,620,7.W 
15,031,750 
15,314,500 
15,911,000 
7,9ri6,000 



37,200 
173,900 
87,200 
55,000 
38,600 



2,862,000 5 

4,527,338 | 7 



6 4,589,250 c 33, 798 



87, 084, 588 



022,200 

f.()l,.t.50 
(I9S, 1.50 
3. 5!, 700 
445,820 
270,826 
49H,460 
146,098 
207, 002 



570,898 116,645,306 



Year. 



1885. 
1886. 
1887. 
1888. 
1889. 
1890. 
1K91. 
1892. 
1893. 
1894. 
1895. 
1K96. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1914. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Total by species. 



Chiim. 



Coho, or 
silver. 



Spring, or 
king. 



Hump- 
back. 



40,000 

'i,'i6o,'666 
'i25,'666 



5,256,000 
3,8,000 
3S3, 000 



90,000 
1,750,000 

210,000 
5,576,100 
4,774,000 
3,219,2(X) 
5,890,000 
7,375,400 

450,000 
9,868,800 
7,387,000 
5,175,fiOO 
3,774,000 
4,425,220 
3,341,826 
3,398,760 
3,930,210 
3, 952, 819 



22,000 



4,381,400 
1,791,. -00 
1,814,900 
7,521.000 
5,772.400 
0,300,000 
2,554,500 
6,418,500 
5,246,0.50 
751,000 
2,865,300 
3,116,400 
2,854,800 
3,181,950 
2, 722, 960 



Total 7,357,000 74,588,935 57,314,660 74,441,450 1,316,299,233 691,898 1,468,190,276 



50,000 



22,500,000 



28,773,350 



500,000 

16,1)00 

3,834,000 

4,78S,(lUO 

13,940,100 

40,000 



Sockeye. 



1,800 

2,625 

4,411 

5, 807 

4,419 

6,640 

3,603 

6,000 

5,674 

6,300 

6,390 

10,393 

5,928 

5,850 

4,742 

6,200, 

15,808, 

17,607, 

20,225, 

15,862, 

117,136, 

54, 401 ; 

74,196, 

71,591, 

134,639, 

62,414, 

77,077, 

83,4S('), 

136,915, 

72,898, 

103,943, 

56,176, 

52,592, 

62, 539, 



,000 

,0{K) 
,000 

,000 

,000 
,000 
,800 
,000 
,000 
, 000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,000 
,200 
,200 
,850 
,650 
,150 
,900 
,200 
,770 
,(;oo 

,880 
,700 
,613 
,.357 
,200 
288 
875 



Steelhead 
trout. 



12,000 
"4J666 



145,200 
37,200 

173,900 
87,200 
55,000 
38,600 



63, 798 



Grand 

total. 



1,8(10,000 

2,(.:'5,000 

4,414,000 

5,807,000 

4,419,000 

6,640,000 

3,603,800 

6,000,000 

5,674,000 

6,300,(X)0 

6,390,000 

10,393,000 

5,928,000 

5,8.50,000 

4,742,000 

0,2(K),000 

15,973,000 

19,4.">4,000 

20,497,200 

25,819,700 

123,706,350 

59,435,750 

110, 107, LW 

84,739,:00 

141,389,200 

75,023,270 

119,693,650 

95,182,430 

142,027,900 

80,385,133 

114,274,183 

72,473,760 

74,022,548 

09, 702, 452 



a Includes 24,301 fingerliiigs. 

b Includes 205,700 advanced fry and 26,000 fingerlings. 

ALASKA. 



e Includes 5,357 fingerlings. 



In 1891 several of the canneries operating at Karluk, on Kodiak 
Island, combined forces and built a hatchery on the lagoon at that 
place. As the cannery men were at swords' points in regard to their 
fishing rights on the spit, in 1892 the hatchery was closed. In May, 
1896, the Alaska Packers Association broke ground for a hatchery 
at the eastern end of the lagoon, near tlio outlet of Karluk Kiver, a 
short distance from where the hatchery was located in 1S91, and 
operated it until 1916, when it was abandoned as a hatchery. 



248 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

In 1892 Capt. John C. Callbreath, manager of the Point Ellis 
cannery on Kuiu Island, operated a small hatchery on the left bank 
of Kutlakoo stream. It was a very primitive place, and an excep- 
tionally high tide destroyed the whole plant in September. It was 
never rebuilt. 

Capt. Callbreath, however, after seeing to the operation of the 
hatchery, had returned to Wrangell during the summer, where his 
attention was again attracted to hatchery work, and in the fall of 
1892 he built a small hatchery on Jadjeska stream, Etolin Island, 
about 200 yards from its mouth. The stream is about one-half mile 
in length and is the outlet of a small lake. Finding the location 
unsuitable, Capt. Callbreath removed the hatchery in 1893 to the 
northern side of the lake, about three-eighths of a mile from the head 
of the outlet, where it still stands. The owner's intention was to 
build up a stream which had a small natural run of red salmon until 
i'l had a large run, with the hope that the Government would then 
give him the exclusive right to take these fish from the str^'am for 
commercial purposes. The experiment was kept up until the end of 
the season of 1905, when Capt. Callbreath's failing eyesight compelled 
the cessation of the actual hatching. Until 1910 a man was stationed 
on the stream during the run of spawning fish for the purpose of lift- 
ing them over the dam, so that they could reach the spawning beds 
at the head of the lake, and the project was abandoned entiiely 
shortly thereafter. The owner's expectation of a big run as a result 
of hatching operations was never realized. 

In 1896 the Baranof Packing Co., which operated a cannery on 
Redfish Bay, on the western coast of Baranof Island, built a small 
hatchery on the lake at the head of Redfish stream. The following 
winter was so cold that not only the flume but the whole cataract 
froze solid, and as the hatchery was thus left without water the eggs 
were put into the lake and left to their fate and the hatchery closed 
down permanently. 

In 1897 the North Pacific Trading & Packing Co., at Klawak, 
Prince of Wales Island, established a hatchery near the head of 
Klawak stream, close to Klawak Lake. In 1898 the plant was moved 
to the mouth of a small stream entering the lake about halfway up 
the western shore. This hatchery was operated continuously until 
the end of 1917, since when it has been shut down. In 1909 the 
North Alaska Salmon Co. acquired a half interest in it, which it 
relinquished to the original owners a few years later. 

The Pacific Steam \v'haling Co. in 1898 erected a small hatchery 
on Hetta Lake, on the west side of Prince of Wales Island, which 
was operated until the close of the hatching season of 1903-4, when 
the Pacific Packing & Navigation Co., successor to the original 
owner, went into the hands of a receiver. In 1907 it was reopened 
by the Northwestern Fisheries Co., which had acquired the interests 
of the old company, and has been operated each season since, with 
the exception of 1919. 

Up to 1900 the work of hatching salmon was entirely voluntary 
on the part of the packers. On May 2 of that year the following 
regulation was promulgated at the Treasury Department, which at 
that time had control of the Alaska salmon-inspection service: 

7. Each person, companj , or corporation taking salmon in Alaskan waters shall 
establish and conduct, at or near the fisheries operated by him or them, a suitable 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 249 

artificial propagatlna: plant or hatchery, and shall produce yearly and place in the 
natural spawning waters of each fishery so operated red-salmon fry in such numbers 
as shall be equal to at least four times the niunber of mature fish taken from the said 
fisheries by or for him or them during the preceding fishing season. Thr manage- 
ment and optratJon of such hatcheries shall oe subiect to such rules and regulations 
as may hereafter (je prescribed by the Secretary of the Treasury. They slia!! be open 
for inspection by the authorized official of this department; annual rcport.-j shall be 
made, gi\'ing full particulars of the number of male and female salmon stripped, the 
number of eggs treated, the number and percentage of fish hatched, and all other con- 
ditions of interest; and there shall be made a sworn yearly statement of the number 
of fry planted and the exact location where said planting was done. 

On January 24, 1902, this regulation was amended so as to require 
the planting of ''red-salmon fry in such numbers as shall be equal to 
at least ten times the number of salmon of all varieties taken from 
the said fisheries." 

Although the regulation was mandatory, but few of the packers 
obeyed it, some because no suitable place was to be found within a 
reasonable distance of their plants, others because the establishment 
and operation of such a hatcnery would cost more than their returns 
from the industry justified, and others because of lack of knowledge 
required in hatchery work. The greater number of them absolutely 
ignored it, and as a result those who conformed to the regulation 
were placed under a heavy financial handicap. The injustice of this 
arrangement was patent on its face, and in 1906, when a compre- 
hensive revision oi the law was made by Congress, provision was 
made for reimbursing in the future those cannery men who operated 
salmon hatcheries. The section covering this point reads as loUows: 

Sec. 2. That the catch and pack of salmon made in Alaska by the owners of pri- 
vate salmon hatcheries operated in Alaska shall be exempt from all license fees and 
taxation of every nature at the rate of ten cases of canned salmon to every one thousand 
red or king salmon fry liberated, upon the following conditions: 

That the Secretary of Commerce and Labor may from time to time, and on the 
application of the hatchery owner shall, within a reasonable time thereafter, cause 
such private hatcheries to be inspected for the purpose of determining the character 
of their operations, efficiency, and productiveness, and if he approve the same shall 
cause notice of such approval to be filed in the office of the clerk or deputy clerk of the 
United States district court of the division of the District of Alaska wherein any such 
hatchery is located, and shall also notify the owners of such hatchery of the action 
taken by him. The owner, agent, officer, or superintendent of any hatchery the 
effectiveness and productiveness of which has been approved as above provided 
shall, between the thirtieth day of June and the thirty-first day of December of each 
year, make proof of the number of salmon fry liberated during the twelve months 
immediately preceding the thirtieth day of June by a written statement under oath. 
Such proof shall be filed in the office of the clerk or deputy clerk of the United States 
district court of the di\rision of the District of Alaska wherein such hatchery is located, 
and when so filed .shall entitle the respective hatchery owners to the exemption aa 
herein provided; and a false oath as to the number of salmon fry liberated shall be 
deemed perjury and subject the offender to all the pains and penalties thereof. Dupli- 
cates of such statements shall also be filed with the Secretary of Commerce and Labor. 

It shall be the duty of such clerk or deputy clerk in whose office the approval and 
proof heretofore provided for are filed to forthwith issue to the hatchery ownier, caus- 
ing such proofs to be filed, certificates which shall not be transferable and of such 
denominations as said owner may request (no certificate to cover fewer than one 
thousand fry), covering in the aggregate the number of fry so proved to have been 
liberated ; and such certificates may be used at any time by the person, company, cor- 
poration, or association to whom issued for the payment pro tan to of any license fees 
or taxes upon or against or on account of any catch or pack of salmon made by them 
in Alaska; and it shall be the duty of all public officials charged with the duty of col- 
lecting or receiving such license fees or taxes to accept such certificates in lieu of 
money in payment of all license fees or taxes upon or against the pack of lanned 
salmon at the ratio of one thousand fry for each ten cases of salmon. No hatchery 
owner Bhall obtain the rebates from the output of any hatchery to which he might 



250 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

otherwise be entitled under this act unless the efficiency of said hatchery has first 
been approved by the Secretary of Commerce and Labor in the manner herein pro- 
vided for. 

Of recent years so much objection has been raised to the system 
of hatchery rebates that the matter of the Federal Government 
taking over all private hatcheries in Alaska, at a fair valuation, and 
operating same, is being favorably considered. 

In 1901 the Pacific Steam Whaling Co. established two small 
hatcheries — one on Nagel Stream, which enters the northern side of 
Quadra Lake, on the mainland of southeast Alaska, and one on a 
stream entering Freshwater Lake Bay, Chatham Strait. Both were 
closed down in 1904 when the company failed. In 1908 the North- 
western Fisheries Co., which had acquired the Quadra plant, removed 
it to a small stream entering the head of the lake and has operated 
it ever since. 

In 1901 the Alaska Packers Association erected a hatchery on 
Heckman Lake, the third of a series of lakes on Naha Stream, Revilla- 
gigedo Island, and about 8 miles from Loring, where the association 
has a cannery. This, known as Fortmann hatchery, is without ques- 
tion the largest and costliest salmon hatchery in the world, having a 
capacity of 110,000,000 eggs, and the association is entitled to great 
credit for the public spirit it has shown and the work it has done, 
entirely without remuneration until 1906, in building and operating 
not only this hatchery but also the one at Karluk. 

The Union Packing Co., at Kell Bay, on Kuiu Island, and F. C. 
Barnes, at Lake Bay, on Prince of Wales Island, in 1902 built and 
operated small hatcheries, both of which were abandoned after one 
season's work. 

Up to 1905 the work of hatching salmon in Alaska was confined to 
the salmon cannery men. In that year, however, the United States 
Bureau of Fisheries erected a hatchery on Yes Lake, which empties 
through a short stream into Yes Bay, on Cleveland Peninsula. In 
1907 the Bureau constructed another hatchery, on Afognak Lake, 
near Litnik Bay, Afognak Island. 

The eruption of Katmai volcano, on the Alaska Peninsula, June 
6, 1912, covered the island of Afognak with volcanic ash and sand to 
an average depth of 9 inches. It is estimated that 20,000 salmon 
perished at the head of Litnik Lake, while thousands were driven 
back into the ocean. As a result of these conditions the work at the 
Afognak station was much hampered and curtailed. Even as late 
as 1915 work at this station was still being hampered by the volcanic 
ash and sand which fell in 1912. 

In 1913 collecting stations were established at Eagle Harbor and 
Ugaiiak Lake, on Kodiak Island. In 1915 another was established 
at Seal Bay, on Afognak Island. 

In 1913 a collecting station' was established on Ketchikan Creek, 
but, owing to the objections of the citizens of the town against the 
taking away of the eggs, the station was abandoned in 1915. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



251 



The following tables show the eggs and fry distributed by the 
Government and privately owned hatcheries in Alaska: 

Output of the Salmon Hatcheries in Alaska Owned by the U. S. Bureau of 

Fisheries, 1906 to 1919. 





McDonald Lake or Yes Bay hatchery. 


Year ending 
June 30— 


Red, or sookeye. 


Coho, 

or silver 

fry. 


Steel- 
head 
fry. 


Humpback. 


Total. 




Eggs. 


Fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


1906 




6, 038, 550 
54,610,800 
01,309,000 
48,653,000 
69, 879, (KX) 












0, 638, 550 


1907 ... 




143,500 








54,754,300 


1908 




j 


61,309,000 


1909 


9,900 






1 


48,602,900 
09, 879, 600 


1910 . 










1911 


68, 239, 900 






100,000 




100,000 


68, 239, 900 


1912 


68,335,000 

60, 422, 100 

42,72<i,40(l 

«37,445,(KK) 








68,335,000 


1913 














60, 422, 100 


1914 


2,000,000 








4,500,000 


2,000,000 
2,000,000 
18,100,000 
2,000,000 


47, 226, 400 


1915 


..::::;:::::::::: 


2,000,000 


37,445,000 


1916 


18,100,000 
2,000,000 


652,317,500 
••51, 175,000 
■^2, 539, 200 
'32,650,000 








52, 317, .500 


1917 .... 










51,175,000 


1918 










32, 539, 200 


1919 


d 47, 300, 000 






1,365,000 


930,000 


48.065.000 


33,580,000 












Total... 


69,400,000 (187,001,050 | 9,900 j 143,500 


3,465,000 


5,430,01X) 72,805,000 

1 


092,584,450 











Afognak hatchery. 






Year ending June 
30— 


Red, or sockeye. 


Coho, 

or .silver 

fry. 


Humpback. 


Total. 




Eges. 


Fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


1909 




39, 325, 870 






10,000 
303, 740 
364, 150 




39, 335, 870 


1910 




71,647,170 
26,755,000 
18,394,700 
12,551,100 
7,761,705 
/6, 387, 080 
'122,933,040 
•21,116,000 
31,427,000 
24,903,000 








72, 010, 910 


1911 










27,119,150 


1912 ' --- - 





3,271,740 


3,271,740 


18. 394, 700 
12,551,100 


1913 






1914 


3,970,666 


50,000 




i2, 034, 399 
P 343, 480 


3,970,000 
12,500,000 


19, 84(), 104 


1915 


12,500,000 


6, 730, 560 


1910 




22, 933, 640 


1917 . . 












21,116,000 


1918 


18,000,000 
i 54,081,000 








18,000,000 
1.3,378,000 


31,427,000 


1919 




* 8, 697, 000 


2, 142, 000 


27,045,000 






Total 


76,651,000 


283,202,205 


50,000 


24, 468, 740 


15,257,769 


101,119,740 


298,510,034 











a Includes 2,925,000 fingerlings, yearlings, or adults. 

t> Includes 19,402,-500 lingcrlings. 

c Includes 1,575,000 fingerlings. 

d 1,059,900 sockeye eggs were shipped to the Little White Salmon hatchery, and 3,440,100 to the Oregon 
Fish Commission. 

< Includes 0,000,000 fingerlings. 

/ Includes 5,444,830 fingerlings, yearlings, or adults. 

g Includes 119,480 fingerlings, yearlings, or adults. 

A Includes 11,100,440 lingerlings. Of the eggs from which these fry and fingerlings were hatched 15,000,- 
000 came from Yes Bay hatchery. 

1 Includes 10,160,000 fingerlings. 

> 5,100,000 of these eggs were shipped to the Bureau's Quinault (Wash.) hatchery, and 20,700,000 to the 
Province of British Columbia. 

* 6,760,000 of these eggs were shipped to the Bureau's Fuget Sound hatcheries. 



252 



tr. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Output op the Salmon Hatcheries in Alaska Owned by the U. S. Bureait of 
Fisheries, 1906 to 1919 — Continued. 





Total, by species, both hatcheries. 


Grand 




Year end- 
ing June 
30— 


Red, or sockeye. 


Coho, Steel- 


Humpback. 






Eggs. 


Fry. 


fry. 


fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


1906 




6,638,550 
54, 610, SOO 
61,369,000 
87,978,870 

141,526,770 
94,994,900 
86,729,700 
72,973,200 
50, 488, 105 

043,832,080 
75,251,140 
72,291,000 
63,966,200 
57,553,000 












6,638,550 
54,754,300 
61,369,000 
87,998 770 


1907 


143, 500 








1908 ' 








1909 


9,900 






10,000 
363,740 
364, 150 




1910 








141, 890, 510 
95,359,050 
86,729,700 
72 973 200 


1911 






100, 000 
3, 271, 740 


100, 000 
3,271,740 


1912 






1913 










1914 


5,970,000 


50,000 






16,534,399 
1)343,480 


5,970,000 
14,500,000 
d3, 100, 000 

2,000,000 
18,000,000 
112,043,000 


67,072,504 
c44 j^75 5(30 


1915 




14,500,000 


1916 


3,100,000 

2,000,000 

18,000,000 

101,981,000 






75^251; 140 
72,291,000 
63, 906, 200 
60,625,000 


1917 










1918 










1919 






10.062,000 


3,072,000 








Total... 


131,051,000 970,203,315 


59,900 


143, 500 


27,933,740 


20,687,769 


158, 984, 740 


991,094,484 



o Includes 8,369,830 fingerlings, yearlings, or adults. 
b Includes 119,480 fingerlings, yearlings, or adults. 
<; Includes 8,489,310 fiiigerlings, yearlings, or adults. 

d 15,000,000 of the red salmon eggs shown under Yes Bay were transferred to Afognak, hatched out 
there and the fry counted under the "Fry" column of that hatchery. 

Take of Eggs, and Output op Private Salmon Hatcheries of Alaska, 1893 to 

1919. 
[Unless otherwise stated in footnotes, all of the fry liberated were red salmon.] 



Year ending June 


Callbreath's hatchery. 


Karluic hatchery. 


Klawak hatchery. 


30— 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


Eggs. 


Fry. 


1893 


900,000 
3,000,000 
6, 300, 000 
6,200,000 
4, 400, 000 
3, 400, 000 
3, 000, 000 
3, 400, 000 

C) 
6, 000, 000 
6, 000, 000 
6, 000, 000 
6, 050, 000 
7, 700, 000 

(d) 

{<) 

(") 

(«) 

(«) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 


600,000 
2.204,000 
5,291,000 
5, 475, 000 
4, 390, 000 
2, 526, 000 
2,050,000 
2,335,000 










1894 










1895 










1896 










1897 


3, 236, 000 

8, 454, 000 

4,491,000 

10, 496, 900 

19,334,000 

32,800,000 

23, 400, 000 

28,113,000 

45,500,000 

36,933,000 

38, 679, 200 

47,808,200 

40,320,000 

45,228,000 

49,626,000 

41,026,800 

45, 600, 000 

34, 629, 160 

(7 30,240,000 

41,135,000 

h 1, 016, 000 

(/) 

(/) 


2,556,440 

6,340,000 

3,369,000 

7,872,000 

15,566,800 

28, 700, 000 

17,555,000 

22,000,000 

33,670,000 

28, 236, 412 

36,846,000 

43,655,000 

37, 105, 000 

40, 620, 000 

37, 722, 000 

37, 495, 100 

41, 803, 155 

31, 546, 080 

27,704,000 

23,948,000 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 






1898 


2,023,000 
3, 600, 000 
3, 600, 000 

(<■) 
3, 500, 000 
3, 500, 000 
3,000,000 
2,800,000 
2,800,000 
3, 600, 000 
3, 500, 000 
3, 500, 000 
5,800,000 
6,786,500 
5,600,000 
3,835,000 
3,645,000 
3,816,000 
4, 180, 000 
8,160,000 

(/) 

(/) 


800,000 

3, 000, 000 

a 1, 000, 000 


1899 


1900 


1901 


1902 


5, 500, 000 
5,000,000 
5, 000, 000 
5, 250, 000 
6, 500, 000 

(d) 

(') 

(«) 

(«) 

(«) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/) 

(/)' 


2,800,000 
1, 500, 000 
1, 700, 000 
2,000,000 
2, 300, 000 


1903 


1904 . 


1905 


1906 


1907 


1908 


2, 776, 000 
3, 200, 000 
5,300,000 
6,200,000 
3,530,000 
3,675,000 
3, 465, 000 
3,653,000 
4,020,000 
7, 822, 000 

(/) 

(/) 


1909 


1910 


1911 


1912 


1913 


1914 


1915.. . 


1916 


1917 


1918 


1919 




Total 


• 62,350,000 


52, 121, 000 


628,066,260 


524, 309, 987 


77,245,500 


59,928,000 



o Many eggs frozen. 

6 No run of fish. 

c Hatchery was not used, the eggs being hatched out in the lake. 

d No report. 

• Fish coming in to spawn were lifted over the dam. 
/ Not operated. 

g A collection of 7,400,000 humpback eggs was made for Afognak, and *hese appear in the report of that 
hatchery. 

* These eggs were turned over to the Afognak hatchery and the hatchery shut down. 
* A considerable portion of these are coho eggs. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



253 



Takf of Eggs, and Output of Private Salmon Hatcheries of Alaska, 1893 

TO 1919— Continued. 



Year endirij June 
30- 



1R99.. 
1900.. 
LqOl . . 
Ifl02.. 
1903.. 
1904.. 
1905.. 
1906.. 
1907.. 
190S. 
1909. 
1910. 
1911. 
1912. 
1913. 
1911. 
1915. 
1916. 
1917. 
1918. 
1919. 



Hetta hatchery. 



Quadra Bay hatchery. 



Kggs. 



2, 800, 000 
2, 000, 000 
1,SOO,000 
2, 500, 000 
4,S00,000 
5,127,500 
(«) 

(<•) 
8,000,000 
8, -100, 000 
10,313,000 
9,141,000 
2,585,000 
3, 7X0, 000 
4, 0S2, 000 
7, 438, 500 
7,408,000 
3, 247, 000 
4,826,000 



Fry. 



2,600,000 
1,. 500, 000 
a 500, OnO 
1, 700, 000 
4,000,000 
3, 750, 000 

(') 

(') 

(') 
6,125,000 
8,131,000 
9, 000, 000 
8,552,500 
2,342,000 
3,592,000 
3, 590, 500 
7, 142, 500 
7,092,000 
3, 120, 000 
4,587,000 



Eggs. 



4, 500, 000 
5,500,000 

600,000 

(O 

(') 

(') 

(') 
3, 325, 000 
10,863,000 
11,200,000 
11,000,000 
10,000,000 
18,400,000 
21,300,000 
.8,114,000 
16, 125, 000 
13,600,000 
20, 400, 000 



Fry. 



Freshwater Bay hatchery. 



Eggs. 



3, 500, 000 
4, 000, 000 
c 400,000 

(<■) 

(') 

C) 
(') 

3, 025, 750 

9, 850, 000 
10, 350, 000 
10,166,000 

8,127,000 
17,054,000 
20,300,000 

7,598,000 
15, 003, 000 
12,990,000 
19,852,000 



1,500,000 

(0) 

(d) 
(') 
(') 

C) 
C) 
(') 
C) 

(') 
(<) 
(>) 

(O 

(') 
(') 
(') 
(') 
{<) 



Fry. 



1,000,000 
C) 

«) 



(') 
(') 
(«) 
(«) 
(«) 
(«) 
(«) 
(«) 
(') 
(') 
(«) 




o Many eggs frozen 

c HatSTer? "4's"not used, the eggs being hatched in the lake. 

d No report. 

nnclu^emL coho eggs taken and 27,000 fry libe^tccK 

g Includes 600,000 humpback eggs taken and 560,000 fry liDeraiea. 

h Includes 2,400,000 humpback eggs taken. 

»• Includes 1,845,000 humpback fry planted. 

} Includes 3,660,000 humpback eggs. 



THE SALMON FISHERIES OF SIBERIA. 

As on the Alaska coast, the aborigines of Siberia must ^ave loarned 
early of the exceUent food qualities of the salmon which each year 
frequented the rivers of that country for spawnmg purposes, and 



254 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

not only ate them fresh but also dried large quantities for winter use 
for themselves and their dogs. 

Owing to the inaccessibility of the Siberian coast, due mainly to 
th* lack of transportation facilities for many years and the decided 
objection of the Kussian Government to travelers roaming over the 
country, partly because of the presence of political and criminal 
convicts and partly because of a fear that they might learn too 
much of its resources, there has been but little written, especially 
with regard to its fishery resources, about this remote section of the 
Russian Empire, and what little has been published is usually filled 
with inaccuracies, due, doubtless, in many mstances to the fact that 
the writer generally had to get most of his information at second and 
third hand and was also unfamiliar with fishery subjects. 

Most of the data given below were obtained directly from persons 
living in Siberia or Japan, most of whom are engaged in the fishing 
industry of Siberia, or from Americans who have on various occa- 
sions visited the country in order to view its fishing possibilities at 

first hand. 

' SPECIES OF SALMON. 

All five species of salmon are to be found along the Siberian coast, 
and the schools appear to run about the same as they do on the 
American side. Although we have very little authentic data relating 
to their movements, these are doubtless similar to the runs on the 
Alaska coast, where climatic and other conditions are very similar. 
Nearly all streams from the Arctic Ocean to north China seem to have 
runs of one or more species. The steelhead does not appear to be an 
inhabitant of the Asian coast. 

The fishing carried on by the Russians has usually been along the 
rivers of the mainland, principally in the Amur and on Saldialin 
Island. 

From very early times Japanese fishermen have frequented the 
Siberian coast and Sakhalin Island (the southern portion of which 
they at one time owned, exchanging it to Russia for the Kurile 
Islands in 1875 and again acquiring itin 1905, as a result of the Russian- 
Japanese war), being drawn here mainly by the rich stores of salmon 
which could be secured easily and quickly, and were so necessary 
to eke out the vast quantity needed to supply such a fish-eating 
nation as Japan. 

FISHING DISTRICTS. 

The Priamur fishing district is subdivided into several districts as 
follows : 

Nilcolaevsk district. — This district comprises the whole lower part 
of the Amur River from the village Zimmermanovka down to the 
mouth of the river, about 300 miles; the River Amgun, 200 miles; 
the Amur estuary, about 150 miles on the mainland and about 130 
miles on the coast of Sakhalin Island, and about 865 miles of the coast 
line on the southwestern shore of the Okhotsk Sea. In 1913 there 
were 139 fishing stations operated in this district, and this number 
has been materially increased since. Humpbacks and chums were 
the principal species of salmon taken. 

Sakhalin district. — The Sakhalin district includes the entire coast 
line of SakhaUn island with the exception of that facing the Amur 
estuary, which belongs to the Nikolaevsk district. It is the smallest 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 255 

district, and at present is of little importance. In 1913 there were 
14 stations on the island and they produced chum and humpback 
salmon. 

Okhotsk- Kamchatka district. — The Okhotsk section covers the 
coast line of the northern part of the Okhotsk Soa from Port Ayan 
to Penjin Promontory, about 1,620 miles. Chum, humpback, coho, 
and red salmon, and Dolly Varden trout are found here. The West 
Kamchatka section includes the coast line from the Sopotshnaya 
River down to the southern Ozernof shore fishing stations, a distance 
of about 335 miles. The Ozerna3'a River is, so far as known, the 
only river in this section that the red salmon visit in any quantities. 
In 1913 there wore 152 fishing stations in this section, most of which 
were leased to Japanese. Tlio number has since been increased. 
All five species of salmon and tlie Dolly Varden trout are found here. 
The East Kamchatka section covers the coast line of eastern Kam- 
chatka and Anadir Peninsulas, about 1,843 miles. Tlie majority 
of the fishing stations are concentrated around Karaginsky (Count 
Litka) Bay, in the straits from the Malo-Voyam River to Kitchigin 
River, about 135 miles long, and in the region of Kamchatka River. 
All five species of salmon and Dolly Varden trout are taken here and 
most of the canneries are located here and in the West Kamchatka 
section. 

Southwestern district. — This district covers the waters from the 
southern boundary of the Amur River estuary (the line between 
Capes Ijazarev and Pogibi) down to the Chosen frontier, including 
Vanina Bay, Imperial Harbor, Peter the Great Bay, and otlKu- bays. 
The total length of the shore line is about 1,350 miles. The northern 
part, from Lazarev-Pogibi line to Cape Povorotni, with the excep- 
tion of various bays, includes the conventional waters, while the 
southern part, composed of Peter the Great Bay and Posiet Bay, 
are excluded from the conventional waters. In the first-named 
section chum and humpback salmon are cauglit to some extent. 
In the southern section chum and humpback salmon are taken and 
marketed fresh. 

Amur River. — The Amur River is subdivided into two districts — 
the Marinsk, or the Lower Amur, district and the Khabarovsk dis- 
trict. The first named includes the area from the villager Troitskoe 
to the village Sophiskoe, or a tract about 278 mih^s long. The 
Khabarovsk district includes the river lino from the northern bound- 
ary of the Maryinsk district up the river to Khabarovsk, about 127 
miles. Chum salmon form the bulk of the catch in this district. 

FISHERY RIGHTS AND REGULATIONS. 

Along the entire seacoast of Siberia, by virtue of the Russo-Japa- 
nese convention of 1907, concluded for I'i years, and, it is reporlcnl, 
with what truth we have no means of telling at present, renewed 
in 1919, the Japanese^ are permitted to engage in fishing on equal 
terms with Russians. In such sections there is no restriction 
with regard to the nationality of the laborers employed or the 
method of pn^paring the fish, except that the manufacture of fish 
manure from fish of the salmon variety is prohibited. On the face 
of it this convention looks like an equitable agreement, but in putting 
the Japanese on the same footing as the Russians it subjected them 



256 TT. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

to a lot of unstated and arbitrary laws, by-laws, and local regula- 
tions, besides making the tenure exceedingly short, virtually only 
one year, as a result of which Japanese capital refuses to erect more 
than the crudest of plants. 

The Department of Domains fixes the limits of the stations, and 
these are sold at public tender, usually during February and March. 

The exhaustion of the fishery resources of many of the European 
waters belonging to Russia has forced some of her more enterprising 
fishermen to seek for new supplies in her Siberian waters, and as 
these resources become better known, and means of transportation 
are increased and improved, there will doubtless be a tremendous 
impetus given to their development. 

The World War which devastated Europe between 1914 and 1918 
had a particidarly disastrous effect on Russia, where the terribly 
devastating internecine warfare resulting from the revolution within 
her borders sapped her resources to such an extent that her vSiberian 
fishery operators have bpen unable to do anything other than make 
a bare living out of the business and not even that in many cases 
owing to the uncertainty of business conditions. As a result of these 
distressing handicaps upon the operations of the Russians, the 
Japanese have had virtually a free hand in their exploitation of the 
coastal fishery resources of Siberia. As Siberia in the near future will 
be the greatest producer of salmon, it behooves us to bestir ourselves 
if we are to retain our command of the salmon market by taking 
an active part in the development of Siberia's fishery resources, for 
which development Russia has not heretofore welcomed foreign 
capital. When peace finally comes to that devastated land, how- 
ever, her capital will be so depleted that she will doubtless 
welcome relief from whatever' source it comes, and as she knows 
the United States has no territorial aspirations in her direction we 
will doubtless be far more welcome than the Japanese, of whose 
disinterestedness the Russians are extremely suspicious. 

Fishing rights in the gulfs and bays not included in the Russo- 
Japanese convention, such as Peter the Great Bay, Imperial Har- 
bor, Vanina Bay, Avatchinsk Bay, and others, as well as the rivers 
of Okhotsk and Kamchatka, are granted by the Governor General, 
without pubHc tenders, to persons of good repute, but for one year 
only, and if they show their ability to establish a successful fishing 
station a lease for 12 years can be secured on the basis of paying a 
royalty of 2^ cents per pood (36.112 pounds) of prepared fish. Under 
the tej-ms of the lease only Russian subjects can be employed at 
the stations, while all sailing vessels serving the stations must be 
under the Russian flag. 

The regulations governing the river districts vary from those re- 
lating to coast concessions, and also vary from each other, as the 
local authorities in the river districts are authorized to issue tem- 
porary rules and regulations to cover local conditions. 

On the Amur River, within the boundaries of the Nikolaevsk, 
Maryinsk, and Khabarovsk districts, the fishing stations are leased 
by public auction to the highest bidder, some on a long-term basis 
and others for only one year. At stations above the city of Nikola- 
evsk, within 30 miles of the Amur estuary and farther, no foreign 
labor is allowed. Below the city of Nikolaevsk foreign labor can be 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHEEIES. 257 

employed to handle the fish on shore, but the actual fishing can be 
done only by Russian subjects. 

At the present time the chief aim of the Russian authorities is to 
break the monopoly the Japanese have of the fisheries along the 
greater part of the coast. This will be an exceedingly difficult thing 
to do, owing to the proximity of the Japanese to the Siberian coast, 
the ease with which they can transport by water the necessary sup- 
plies, etc., for carrying on the fisheries, the vastly greater skill m 
carrying on this work displayed by them over their Russian com- 
petitors, and their unlimited supply of cheap labor, while the Russian 
fisheries are badly hampered as a result of the few Russian subjects 
available for such work and the consequent high wage cost of same. 
Japan also has another big advantage in that she is at present almost 
the sole market for the greater part of the salmon and other fishes 
taken in Siberia. The very fact of this fish being necessary for feeding 
her people will cause Japan to battle hard to hold her present advan- 
ta^. 

In order to encourage opposition to the Japanese, the Russian 
authorities in 1913 gave to Denbigh & Biritch, on a long lease, a 
fishing station on the Kamchatka River (eastern shore of Kamchatka 
peninsula), and to S. Grooshetsky & Co. one on the Bolsha River 
(western shore of Kamchatka). In order to safeguard the fishery in 
the lease each was to build a fish hatchery with a capacity of 3,000,000 
salmon per annum in the vicinity of the station. Each was to release 
500,000 in 1914, 1,000,000 in 1915, and 3,000,000 yearly from 1916 
to the end of the lease. Owing to technical difficulties only the latter 
firm built a hatchery, and this not until 1915 or 1916. It has since 
been shut down. 

The development of the salmon and other fisheries of Siberia has 
been much hampered by the disinclination of the Russian Govern- 
ment to permit foreigners to acquire fishing concessions except on 
very short tenure. As the Russians themselves are generall}^ un- 
skilled in fishing operations, and are compelled to do the work with 
Russian labor, which is quite scarce, they do but little with their 
concessions. American capital would doubtless be available for 
developing Siberia's fisheries were it assured of a sufficiently long 
tenure of lease with some other minor concessions. 

APPARATUS EMPLOYED. 

In the river districts somewhat primitive fishing apparatus is 
employed. Spears, dip nets, and the other simple forms which 
seem to be common to all savage tribes depending upon the water 
for the greater part of their subsistence, are all in use by the natives 
living along the upper reaches. 

Weirs of a primitive type known as "zaezdka," are also used. 
These have a lead consisting of willow poles and branches built from 
the river bank or a sand bank out into the stream. At the outer 
end is attached a net compartment with a lead, into which the fish, 
which have been following the lead in the search for an opening, 
pass. Two men in a boat are anchored close by, and as soon as 30 
or 40 salmon have passed into the compartment, it is hauled up and 
the fish emptied into the boat, after which the net is reset. 

11312°— 21 17 



258 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



Haul seines of varying lengths and depths are used in connection 
with the more important river fishing stations. 

Along the coast the Japanese use a floating trap net somewhat 
similar to the type used in Alaska, also haul seines and a few gill nets. 

ABUNDANCE OF SALMON. 

It is exceedingly difficult to secure even approximate statistics 
of the Siberian catch of salmon, owing to the wide extent of coast, the 
totally inadequate means of transportation preventing close super- 
vision, the presence of so many foreigners who go directly home with 
their catches at the end of the season, and the crude system of control 
in operation by the authorities. 

The following table shows the catch of salmon in the four districts 
for the year 1898: 



District. 


Spring. 


Summer. 


Autumn. 


Nikolaevsk 




7,464,896 
873,000 
316, 950 
635,000 


4,685,480 

2,662,000 

665,500 

748,000 


Okhotsk 


60,000 

1,067,000 

666, 000 




Rakhalin , , 






Total 


1, 793, 000 


9,289,846 


8, 760, 980 







In the Anadir district the catch in 1909 was as follows: Cape 
St. Michael, 91,616; above Cape Neuman, 8,234; Anadir River, 
150,746; Anadir River estuary, 9,864; Hanchelar River, 6,121; 
Cape Observation, 270,000; total, 536,581. The catch by natives 
and small Russian fishermen is estimated at about 3,000,000 and 
500,000 fish, respectively. In addition to this, 130 barrels of caviar, 
weighing 14 tons, were prepared, and there were 20 tons from Cape 
Observation. 

According to the statistics of the Fisheries Control, the catch of 
salmon in the Amur River in 1910 was as follows: Spring salmon, 
7,701,344; summer salmon, 21,384,549; autumn salmon, 9,546,254; 
in all, 38,632,147. Of this number 34,649,025 fish were marketed 
and the balance consumed locally. Japan bought 23,228,481 fish, 
valued at $473,800; the balance was valued at $681,345. In addition 
there were 4,766,784 pounds of salmon caviar, valued at an average 
price of $0,114 per pound, totaling $543,413, which brings the total 
value of the salmon catch and by-products up to $1,698,558. During 
the same year, in Peter the Great Bay, 8,263 salmon were caught. 

The number of salmon caught in eastern and western Kamchatka 
and in the bays and rivers in this region not included in the Fishing 
Convention, and at the Russian river stations, in 1911, was as follows: 



Species. 



Western 
Kam- 
chatka. 



Eastern 
Kam- 
chatka. 



River 
stations. 



Bays and 

river 
outlets. 



Total. 



Chavitch (king) 

Keta (chum) 

Krasnaia (red) 

Garbusha (humpback) 
Kishutch (echo) 

Total 



5,421 

3,082,300 

2,136,800 

39, 448, 500 

327,200 



45,000,221 



7,818 
2, 675, 000 

747,000 
1,411,000 

179, 000 



207 

297, 300 

689,000 

1, 320, 200 

114,200 



590 

890, 790 

236, 240 

175,980 

7,770 



5,019,818 



2,420,907 



1,311,370 



14,036 

6,945,390 

3,809,040 

42,355,680 

628, 170 



53,752,316 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



259 



In the Okhotsk district the catch amounted to 827,274 keta and 
37,790 Ivi'asnaia. Of salmon caviar 489 tons were prepared by the 
Japanese and 60 tons by the Russians. 

In 1915 about 50,000 barrels of pickled salmon were prepared on 
the Amur River. In the sections covered by the Fishing Convention 
6,000,000 salmon, mostly keta with a few krasnaia, were dry -salted, 
while 80,000,000 humpback salmon, called "salmon trout" in Japan, 
were so prepared. No fish were frozen for the European market, due 
to the war. A considerable quantity of caviar was prepared, but the 
quantity is unknown. The pack of canned salmon is shown elsewhere. 

In tlie "Pacific Fisherman" (February, 1917), Seattle, Wash., 
its Hakodate (Japan) correspondent reports the following partic- 
ulars of the 1916 salmon season: 

During the year 1916 the salmon catches in the States of Kamchatka and Okhotsk, 
Siberia, varied greatly according to districts. On the west coast of Kamchatka and 
Okhotsk there was a big run all season, but the run on the east coast of Kamchatka 
was extremely poor, except in the Kamchatka River. The distribution of salmon 
varieties is always limited to about the following districts: 

Chums are present in large quantities on the east coast of Kamchatka and Okhotsk, 
but on the west coast of Kamchatka they are never plentiful. 

Red salmon are almost entirely limited to two districts, the Kamchatka and Ozer- 
naya rivers, being very scarce in other districts. 

Humpbacks are found all along the coast, but most especially in the district of 
Boliskreska [Bolsheryetzk], where there is always a large run. 

Silver salmon are found in small quantities on the west and east coasts of Kam- 
chatka at certain seasons of every year. 

King salmon are present in very limited quantities, early in the season on the west 
and east coasts of Kamchatka. 

There were 17 canneries operated in 1916, and they packed about 470,000 cases. 
There were 218 fishing places on the shores, and the number of salmon caught during 
the season was 94,582,228. 

All the salmon packers and fishermen in Siberia have used steamers for the trans- 
portation of their goods for several years past, but owing to the high rates now prevail- 
ing on steamer tonnage they were obliged again to make use of sailing Aessels. Prices 
of all equipment and outfits for the canneries and salting stations were from 30 per 
cent to 50 per cent higher than for the previous year, but as a result of the strong 
demand for salmon products due to the European war, all the markets are in good condi- 
tion. Accordingly, preparations for the coming season are expected to be on a more 
extensive scale, both as to number and size of canneries and development of the 
fisheries. 

The above statement is accompanied by the following estimate of the number of 
salmon caught in 1916 in the States of Kamchatka and Okhotsk, except in the rivers: 



Species. 



Chum 

Humpback. 

'Kii\e. 

Red. 

Silver 



Total. 



Okhotsk. 



Number. 
1,482,312 
3,710,320 



6,192,632 



East Kam- 
chatka. 



Number. 

2,318,964 

1,776,112 

3,276 

308,502 



4,406,854 



West Kam- 
chatka. 



Number. 

1,609,056 

79,926,512 



3,311,304 
75, 870 



84,982,742 



Total. 



Number. 

5,170,332 

85,412,944 

3,276 

3,619,806 

75,870 



94,582,228 



FREEZING SALMON. 



As when the Russians owned Alaska, the exploitation of Siberia 
was carried on for many years by trading companies with large 
powers granted by the Government. In 1892 a very enterprising 
company was in charge, judging from the following extract from a 
letter written on February 2, 1893, by the late Eugene G. Blackford, 



260 " U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

the well-loiown fish dealer of New York, to the late Col. Marshall 
McDonald, then United States Commissioner of Fish and Fisheries: 

I have just learned of the arrival in f'liicago of 60,000 pounds of frozen salmon. 
They were caught in Petropavlovsk. Kamchatka. These fish are a new venture 
undertaken by a commercial trading company who control that country, and these 
salmon have been taken from a river where none have been caught before, and my 
information is that they catch fish weighing as much as 150 pounds each. The abo\e 
lot of fish was brought frozen to Tacoma and then shipped by refrigerator car to Chi- 
cago, where they were sold to Mr. Booth, of the Booth Packing Co. , Chicago. Mr. Booth 
has declined to pay for them because of their not V)eing in satisfactory condition. 

Nothing further appears to have been done in this line until in 1903, 
when a Berlin fish merchant outfitted and sent to the Siberian coast 
a refrigerator steamer with a capacity of 2,500 tons. The fish were 
caught mainly in the Amur River and were frozen immediately after 
being brought aboard. In all, 160,000 salmon were obtained, and 
these were in excellent condition when landed at Hamburg, Germany. 

In 1907 the Salmon Steam Fishing Co., a combined British and 
Japanese company, chartered the steamers Zenobia and Zepliyrus. 
These vessels were fitted with refrigerating apparatus and cold-stor- 
age chambers and sent to the Kamchatkan Peninsula to get a cargo. 
Both secured good cargoes. 

In 1909 two refrigerating steamers visited the coast and froze salmon 
for the European market. One vessel was outfitted by a British 
company and the other by a German company, J. Lindenberger (Inc.). 
The latter reported that the dog salmon, the principal species frozen, 
were large and very bright. The British steamer left England in 
April and arrived home again late in December. 

CANNING SALMON. 

In 1900 the Kamchatka Commercial & Industrial Co. (Ltd.), was 
organized at St. Petersburg, Russia, by A. T. Prozoraf, president of 
the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce; P. M. Grunwalt; H. T. M. 
Court, and A. A. Prozoraf, secretary. A complete canning outfit was 
purchased in the United States, and the first cannery in Siberia estab- 
lished at Petropavlovsk, Avacha Bay, Kamchatka. 

The San Francisco Trade Journal, under date of December 19, 1902, 
printed the following item relating to the operations of this cannery: 

On December 8 the Russian barkentine Bitte arrived from Petropavlovsk, Siberia, 
with 10,436 cases canned salmon. This is the first consignment of salmon received 
from them. 

The greater part of the pack comprised dog salmon, although they 
were labeled "pink" salmon, the rest being reds and kings. 

In 1903 the company did not operate, the fishing season being 
devoted to moving the plant to Ust-Kamchatka, at the mouth of the 
Kamchatka River, where, after being in use altogether for two or 
three years, it was abandoned and left all standing. 

In 1907 two canneries were established in the estuary of the Amur 
River, near Nikolaevsk, but beyond getting out samples they were 
never operated. 

In 1910 A. G. Denbigh, an Englishman, built a modern cannery 
near the second site of the Kamchatkan Commercial & Industrial Co. 
That year the cannery produced only about 10,000 cases, but each 
year since the equipment of the plant has been enlarged and improved 
until in 1913 the pack amounted to 60,000 cases. Early in 1914 a 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 261 

complete two-line plant of American can-packing machinery was 
installed. 

In 1912 Mr. Denbigh built another cannery 1^ miles away from the 
above plant. This plant was first operated with German and Nor- 
wegian sanitary machinery, but in 1914 a two-line American sanitary 
can-packing plant was installed, the can-making plant at the first 
plant making all the cans needed at the two canneries. 

In 1915 a number of additions were made to both plants in the line 
of fhxt fillers, etc., while still more were in contemplation for 1916. 

Mr. Denbigh also operates a hand cannery at Kompakova, on the 
west side of the Kamchatka Peninsula. 

Up to 1912 very few canneries, and these very primitive affairs, 
had been built by the Japanese, owing to the uncertainty of tenure 
referred to previously. The "canneries" were mere sheds or shel- 
ters where tne cans — which were brought from Japan, made or half 
made — were filled, closed, and cooked, furnace-heated, vertical retorts 
being used for the latter purpose. If the owaier lost his concession 
at the end of the fishing season he simply took his retorts away with 
him and the buildings were left to his successor. 

In 1912 a Tokyo company (Ichigumi & Co.) put up two canneries 
near the Ozernaya River in Kamchatka, while a Japanese from 
Niigata, Japan, also put up a small plant in the same vicinity. Both 
plants were cheaply built and operated with hand-power machinery 
and small vertical retorts. That year the two companies together 
packed about 13,500 cases of salmon. 

The same season Ichigumi & Co. put up another hand-power can- 
nery, and Tsutsumi & Co., of Hakodate, Japan, built two others of 
the same type near the Kamchatka River, on the east coast. 

In 1913 Isutsumi c^i Co. built a modern cannery at Ozerna3^a and 
installed a complete line of American sanitary can-making and can- 
packing machinery. 

The same year Ichigumi & Co. put up two hand-power canneries 
near the Kamchatka River, having succeeded to the concessions for- 
merly held here by Tsutsumi & Co. In 1914 they built a modern 
plant and installed a complete line of American sanitary can-making 
and can-packing machinery. 

The St. Petersburg firm of S. Grooshetsky & Co., which has been 
engaged for a number of years in the freezing of salmon and in the 
preparation of salmon caviar, under the name of the Pacific Ocean 
Sea Industry Association, erected a cannery near Ozernaya in 1914, 
and installed in it a full line of American sanitary can-making and 
can-packing machinery. This plant will compare favorably with 
most of our Alaska canneries. The buildings are of iron. 

In 1915 a number of extensive improvements in the way of new 
buildings, machinery, etc., were made to the various plants, and 
during the winter of 1915-16 several of the canning firms had repre- 
sentatives in this country selecting much additional machinery for 
use during the 1916 season. During the latter season Tsutsumi <!>c Co. 
erected a large new plant at Kiseka and a one-line plant above Kiscka. 
This company also operates a can-making plant at Hakodate, 
equipped with American Can Co. machinery and with a capacit}' of 
800,000 cans per day. Owing to the heavy demand, caused by the 
war, a number of small hand-pack canneries also operated. 



262 



U. S. BUREAU OF FISHEEIES. 



In 1917A. G. Denbigh built a cannery at Javino, on the west coast 
of Kamchatka Peninsula. All the machinery in this plant is electric 
driven. 

In 1918 the ravages occasioned by the war so far as personnel, 
transportation, tinplate shortage, and market conditions were con- 
cerned had come to a head, and as a result the Grooshetsky & Co. 
and some of the smaller canneries did not operate, while Tsutsumi & 
Co. operated only those of its canneries which packed red salmon. 

In 1919 conditions were much more favorable in Siberia, and as a 
result the three Russian plants which were shut down in 1918 re- 
opened. Tsutsumi & Co. erected and operated a new cannery in 
Ust-Kamchatka. The Nichiro Gyogyo Kabushi Kaisha, or Russo- 
Japanese Fisheries Co. (Ltd.), built and operated two additional one- 
line canneries at Kompakova and Kiseka. 

The following table shows the detailed pack of canned salmon 
made by the various companies operating in Siberia in 1915: 

Siberia Canned Salmon Pack in 1915. o 



Name and cannery location.'' 



Canner- 
ies. 




One-pound flats. 




Reds. 


Springs. 


Silvers. 


Chums, c 


Ilump- 
bacJcs. 


3 

4 
1 

1 

1 
1 

1 

2 


Cases. 

58,000 

d 35, 000 

6,000 


Cases. 


Cases. 
26,000 


Cases. 
38,000 


Cases. 










23, 000 
7,000 

11,981 










14,703 

2,200 

« 37, 800 

1,000 


3,334 


2,191 










8,800 
4,000 








10, 000 






10 


154,703 


3,334 


28, 191 


92,781 


10,000 



Total. 



A. G. Denbigh, Kamchatka River (2) 
and Kompakova 

Food Products Exp. Co 

S. Grooshetsky & Co., Bolsheryetzk ... 

Minard & Co 

Nichiro Fishing Co. (Ltd.), Kamchatka 
River 

Sugamiya 

Tsutsumi & Co., Ozernaya 

Hand-pack canneries, liast and West 
Kamchatka 



Total. 




a From Pacific Fisherman Yearbook for 1916, p. 44. 

b There were also a couple ol small carmeries operated on the Amur River which are not shown here. 

c Called " Pinks" in Siberia. 

d Includes 10,000 cases oue-half pound flats of 8 dozen each. 

< Includes 10,800 cases one-half pound fiats of S dozen each. 

In order to show the changes which have occurred since 1915 the 
detailed pack made by the various companies for 1919 is given. 





Sib 


ERiA Canned Salmon Pack in 


1919.a 












Cannery location. 


Num- 
ber of 
can- 
neries 
oper- 
ated. 


Spring. 




Red. 




Name. 


1-lb. 
flats. 


Mb. 
tails. 


1-lb. 
flats. 


i-lb. 
flats. 






Ozernaya, Bolsheryetzk 

Opala I 


2 

I 

3 

1 
1 
7 

4 






8,363 
7,550 
73, 058 

56,877 

888 

900 

112,396 

80,832 




Hakama, S., & Co. 








Eokuyo-Gyogyo Kabushiki 

Kaisha (Ltd.). 
Nichiro Gyogyo Kabushiki 

Kaisha (Ltd.). 
Sliindq, S., & Co 










Bolsheryetzk, Opala, and Ust- 
Kamchatka. 


1,533 






Suda, K., & Co 


Palana R 








Tsutsumi & Co --- 


Ust-Kamchatka, Ozernaya, 
Javino, Koshegocliinsky, 
Bolsheryetzk (2),andKuftoi. 

Opala Goiuiginsky, Koshego- 
chinsky, Javino c 


3,575 


557 


18, 266 


Yushutsu-Shokuhin 


Kabu- 


17, 604 


shiki Kaisha (Ltd.). 








Total 


21 


5,108 


557 


340,863 


35,870 


1 





a From Pacific Fisherman Yearbook for 1920, p. 86. 

6 Formerly Denbigh canneries at Nerpichr and Seaside. 

c Javino cannery bought from A. G. Denbigh & Co. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHEEIES. 263 

Siberia Canned Salmon Pack in 1919 — Continued. 





Cannery location. 


Silver. 


Chum. 


Humpback. 


Total. 


Name. 


1-lb. 
tails. 


1-Ib. 

flats. 


1-lb. 
flats. 


Mb. 
tails. 


Mb. 1 FuU 
flats. ! cases. 


Grooshetsky, S., &Co.... 
Hakama, S., & Co 


Ozernaya, Bolsheryetzk.. 




5,337 






20,248 


33 948 


Opala 








7,550 


Hokuyo-Gyogyo Kabu- 
shiki Kaisha (Ltd.). 

Nicliiro Gyogyo Kabu- 
sliiki Kaisha (Ltd.). 

Shindq, S., & Co 






31, 484 

20,941 

177 


78,589 
11,018 






183, 131 


Bolsheryetzk, Opala, and 
Ust-Kamchatka . 






12,200 


102,569 
1,065 


Suda, K., & Co 


Palana R 










900 


Tsutsumi & Co 


Ust - Kamchatka, Ozer- 
naya, Javino, Koshego- 
cliinsky, Bolsheryetzk 
(2), and Kuftoi. 

Opala, Goluiginsky^ Ko- 
shegochinskv, Javino.* 


17,909 


30,516 


12,376 


50,027 


60,807 
14, 484 


306,429 
112 oan 


Yushutsu-S h k u h i n 


Kabushiki Kaisha 
(Ltd.). 










I 


Total 


17,909 


88, 455 


101,983 


50,027 


107,739 1 748.512 










' 



a Formerly Denbigh canneries at Nerpichr and Seaside. 
6 Javino cannery bought from A. G. Denbigh & Co. 

The following table shows the pack of canned salmon m Siberia 
from 1910, the virtual inception of the industry, to 1919, inclusive: 



Year. 


Canneries 
operated. 


Reds. 


Silvers. 


Pinks, or 
dogs.o 


Springs. 


Hump- 
backs. 


Total. 


1910 


1 
1 


Cases. 
5,500 
15,000 
43,500 
102,900 
85,000 
119,703 
229, 406 
275,212 
296,960 
377, 290 


Cases. 
2,500 
6,000 
18,000 
7,000 
22,500 
28, 191 
54,652 
29,980 
43, 58S 
106,3("4 


Cases. 
2,000 
4,000 
16,000 
21,000 
27,000 
92,781 

129, .598 
66,056 
23, 585 

101,983 


Cases. 


Cases. 


Full cases. 
10,000 
25,000 


1911 






1912 .. 






77, 500 


1913 






2,500 
2,000 
10,000 
56,064 
137, 197 
15, 177 
157, 766 


133, 400 


1914 






136, 500 


1915 


10 
IS 
18 
15 
21 


3,3.34 
2,047 
2,556 
2,027 
5,108 


254,009 


1916 


471, 767 


1917 


511,001 


1918 


3n,337 


1919 


74^,512 






Total 




1, 553, 471 


318,775 


484,003 


15,072 


380,704 1 2.749.026 









a Dog salmon are marketed under a "pink" label. 



SALTING SALMON. 



By far the greater part of the salmon catch of Siberia is either 
pickled or dry salted. This was the earliest commercial method 
mitiated on the coast and has been followed for a number of years, 
mainly by the Japanese. The coast is dotted with concessions worked 
by Japanese, while there are large numbers in operation along the 
rivers, these being restricted to Russians. An idea of the extent of 
this branch of the industry may be gathered when it is stated that in 
1915 there were 50,000 barrels of pickled salmon prepared in the 
Amur region, while the Japanese dry salted about 6,000,000 dog salm- 
on, including also a few reds, and 80,000,000 humpbacks, or "salmon 
trout," as they are called in Japan. 

In pickling salmon the fish are split down the back, the sides being 
held together by the belly. The roe, gills, and viscera are removed 
and the fish are then washed, and after salting are placed in large 



264 tr. s. BUREAU of fisheries. 

tanks for seven or more days, or until they are thoroughly struck, 
after which they are packed in barrels, flesh side up, except the two 
top layers, which have the skin side up. To about 700 pounds of 
fish 180 pounds of salt are used. 

The dry salting, next to drying, is the most primitive method 
employed in preserving salmon. The process consists simply in 
splitting the fish up the belly, removing the gills and entrails, and 
then filling the belly with salt. The fish are then placed in rows on 
matting and covered with salt, and other rows are placed on top of 
them until the pile is from 8 to 10 feet high, when the entire lot is 
covered with matting and left for about seven days, after which they 
are relaid and again covered with salt. For shipping, the fish are 
packed in mats. 

A very odd feature in connection with the operation of most of 
the Japanese plants is that the salt to be used in curing the fish is 
usually dumped loose onto some level spot, with absolutely no cov- 
ering over it, and exposed to the elements. 

The Japanese consume enormous quantities of these dry-salted 
salmon. During the Russian-Japanese war the latter country's fish- 
ermen were cut off from access to their usual fishing grounds, with the 
result that they were forced to look elsewhere for fish. During 1905 
and 1906 large quantities were prepared in Alaska, British Columbia, 
and Washington for this trade, out as soon as the war ended and the 
Japanese got access once more to their old fishing grounds, the Jap- 
anese duty on salt fish, which had been. suspended during and for a 
short period after the war, was reimposed. As a result our fishermen 
soon quit the business, and since then operations on this coast have 
been almost wholly restricted to Japanese operating in British 
Columbia waters. 

At the height of the production on this coast Mr. King, the Amer- 
ican consular agent at Hakodate, Japan, made the following sugges- 
tions to preparers and shippers of dry-salted salmon for the Japanese 
trade: 

The salmon should arrive in Japan by December 1. Most of these fish are used 
among the Japanese for New Year's presents. After the new year the price invariably 
declines 20 to 30 per cent, and for a month or two the fish are difficult to dispose of, 
as the consumers always stock up before the new year. 

The salmon should weigh not less than 5 pounds when thoroughly cured. They 
should be free from spots, which are usually found on the salmon if caught in fresh 
or brackish water. No Japanese would think of giving a salmon with red and black 
spots to a friend for a New Year's present, and spotted fish never realize more than 
half the price obtainable for clean white fish. The salmon should be split up the 
belly and should be salted with fine salt. Coarse salt always tears the flesh of the fish 
when being rubbed in. Care should be taken that the salmon are not oversalted. 

Semga salting is a more improved and sanitary method than that 
of straight pickling and is used when the fish are being prepared for 
the European market. Selected fish are cut open along the belly and 
the viscera and gills are carefully removed. In order that the salt may 
penetrate the .flesh more thorouglily, the flesh on the inside is scored 
several times. The fish are then carefully washed and rubbed with 
brushes, after which they are kept on ice for 24 hours. The brine 
is carefully prepared and very strong. When properly struck the 
fish are repacked into barrels. 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 265 

"Kolodka" is a very crude and cheap method of salting. The fish 
are half salted and half dried without being cut open, and are sold at 
the place where prepared. 

Tne natives prepare a great many salmon for the winter use of 
themselves and their dogs, the same as do the Alaskan natives. Tlie 
fish are dried without the use of salt. The product is known as 
"youkala." 

Some salmon bellies are also cut out and salted, although this has 
never attained to prominence. 

Some fresh salmon, as well as salted, are smoked for local con- 
sumption. 

Barrels, or tierces, for packing salmon are made from cedar, larch, 
or fir, with a net capacity of 900 to 1,000 pounds of fish, and are 
bound with wooden and iron hoops. 

THE SALMON FISHERIES OF JAPAN. 

Outside of Karafuto (that portion of Sakhalin Island, south of 50° 
north latitude, which belongs to Japan) and the Kuril Islands, the 
salmon fisheries of Japan are comparatively small, the principal por- 
tion of the immense catches made by Japanese fishermen being along 
the coasts of Siberia and Karafuto. 

All of the five species of salmon found on the American side are 
to be found in the waters of vSakhalin during the usual spawning 
periods. 

The dog salmon (0. Iceta), which is known in Japan as "sake," and 
when canned as "pink" salmon, is to be found on Hokushu Island, 
running up the various streams for spawning purposes from Septem- 
ber to December. 

On the same island is to be found also the masu (0. masou), a 
salmon, according to Dr. Jordan," very similar to the humpback, 
the scales being a little larger, the caudal fin without black spots, 
and the back usually immaculate. It is fairly abundant in the 
streams of Kokushu, the island formerly known as Yezo, and is found 
nowhere else in the world. The author had an opportunity to ex- 
amine a dry-salted masu (it might be well to state here that in Jap- 
anese masu means "trout") at the fish house of the Royal Fish Co., 
in Vancouver, British Columbia, in January, 1916. The manager, 
Mr. Emy, had imported the fish from his own country. Both in 
size and general appearance it closely resembled a humpback salmon, 
and when cut open the flesh had the same coloring observable in our 
humpback. This species, and the true humpback found in more 
northern waters, especially in Siberia, are dry salted in irnmense num- 
bers and are generally marketed under the name of "white trout" or 
' 'salmon trout." 

In Japan the "red trout" seem to be our rainbow and brook 
trouts, which were introduced into Japanese waters some years ago. 
The red salmon {0. nerka) is to be found landlocked in Lake Akan in 
the northern part of the island. It is smaller in size than the sea 
species. This species has been introduced into the waters of Honshu. 

The section of this report devoted to the salmon fisheries of Siberia 
treats quite fully of the activities of the Japanese in that quarter. 

a Fishes, Pj296. By David Starr Jordan. N. Y., 1907. 



266 



TJ. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 



In Sakhalin, or Karafuto, as it is called in Japan, the Japanese 
have had a rather checkered career. At one time this island belonged 
to the Chinese Empire. Early in the nineteenth century the southern 
portion was occupied by the Japanese. In 1875 she bartered it to 
Kussia in exchange for some small islands in the Kuril group. As 
a result of the Russo-Japanese war the southern half, or all that 
portion south of 50° north latitude, was in 1905 ceded to Japan. 

The salmon fisheries of this island are of much importance. For 
many years the Japanese had a virtual monopoly of them, but very 
early in the present century the Russians attempted to restrict con- 
siderably the activities of the Japanese fishermen, and encouraged 
her own subjects to compete with them. Many hundreds of Rus- 
sians and Koreans were encouraged to migrate to the island and 
engage in its fisheries. Despite these handicaps, the operations of 
the Japanese fishermen, according to the statistics shown below, do 
not seem to have suffered. 



Year. 


Salmon." 


Spring 
salmon. 


Total. 


1897 


Koku.b 
8,589 
6,335 
8,379 
7,719 
3,089 


Koku.b 
34, 246 
11, 22S 
22,959 
8,797 
12,735 


Koku.b 
42,835 


1898 


17,563 


1899 


31, 338 


1900 


16,516 


1901 


15,824 


1902 


24,726 











a Species not specified. 



b Koku equals about 5^ bushels. 



Considerable fishing is carried on around the island of Yetorofu, 
one of the Kuril group. Here are found red (0. nerJca), silver (0. 
Icisutch), and dog salmon {0. Jceta), also either the humpback or Dr. 

Jordan's masu. 

CANNING INDUSTRY. 

The salmon canning industry in Japan proper was inaugurated by 
the Hokushu Colonization Department, a local branch of the Federal 
Government. For some time this department had operated a fishery 
school on Hokushu Island, at which experimental work in the canning 
of salmon and other fishery products was carried on. This estab- 
lishment canned considerable salmon during the Russo-Japanese war. 

This same department also established a fishery school on Yetorofu 
Island, one of the Kuril group, which was, in 1908, taken over by 
Suhara Kakubei, a fisherman and graduate of the school, and used 
as a salmon cannery. 

Some years earlier, however, about 1892 or 1893, Fujino Shirobei 
started canneries in Shibetsu and Bekkai, Nemuro Province, Hok- 
ushu Island, and a short time later Idzumi Shozo also started a 
plant at Nemuro. For a number of years these three canneries were 
the only producers. The plants were quite primitive, the product 
small, { nd most of it was consumed by the Japanese navy. A 
demand for the product was gradually worked up, however, and as 
a result there are now a number of small canning plants on Hokushu 
Island proper, the Kuril Islands, and Japanese Sakhalin. Most of 
these plants devote the major part of their energies to the packing 



PACIFIC SALMON FISHERIES. 



267 



of crab meat, the canning of salmon being in most cases a side issue. 
A few of the plants have been equipped with machinery, but the 
large majority are hand-pack plants, employing but a few persons. 

Most of these plants pack what is called "white trout," which is 
really the humpback or masu salmon. In 1912 there were in Hok- 
ushu and adjacent islands 21 canneries which packed 730 cases (48 
one-pound flat cans each) of red {0. nerka) and 72,770 cases (48 
one-pound cans each) of "white trout," a total of 73,500 cases. 

On the Japanese portion of Sakhalin Island 4 canneries packed 
10,120 cases (48 one-pound cans each) of "white trout" in 1912. 

The pack of canned salmon in Japanese territory in recent years 
has been as follows: 



Year. 


Hokkaido 

and 

Kurils. 


Karafuto 
^Japanese 
Sakhaliu). 


Total. 


1912 


Cases. 
73,500 
46,000 
50,450 
55,000 
37,800 
39,545 
21,490 
50,500 


Cases. 
10, 120 


Coses. 
83 620 


1913 


46*000 


1914 


15,000 
15,000 

1,800 
16,607 

5,000 
18,000 


65,450 
70,000 
39 000 


1915 


1916 


1917 


56 152 


1918 


26 490 


1919 


a 68 500 







o Composed of 2,500 cases of 1-pound flat red salmon and 66,000 cases of 1-pound flat chum salmon. 

The following table shows the quantities and value of salmon and 
trout taken by the Japanese fishermen in certain years: 





Year. 


Salmon. 


Trout 




Pounds. 


Yen. 


Pounds. 


Yen. 


1902 


5,722,475 

9,286,267 

26,438,017 


454,662 

892,879 

1,594,230 


923,025 

4,500,008 

44,038,383 




121 499 


1907 


332,316 
928 513 


1912 







FISHERY METHODS. 

In Japanese waters salmon are taken by means of trap nets, haul 
seines, and gill nets. 

The haul seines used along the seashore have a length of about 500 
fathoms. Each is carried by a boat of 9 feet beam with 30 men, and 
the right wing, called the "outing wing," is first paid out as the boat 
heads out from the beach. When the pocket, or bunt, is cast the 
boat turns its course toward the right and steel's gradually landward, 
casting the left wing. Wlien the school is encircled the seine is hauled 
ashore by the seine ropes. 

The floating trap net used for salmon is known as "kaku-ami," or 
square trap net. This consists of a main net and lead. The main net, 
or heart, is 70 fathoms long, 10 fathoms wide, and 10 fathoms deep, 
and the lead is 120 fathoms long. The latter guides the fish toward 
the main net. When being fished the pot is hauled up by a boat 
crew and the fish transferred to the boat by means of a dip net. 



268 U. S. BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

FISH CULTURE. 

The artificial culture of salmon is carried on in 56 hatcheries, which 
are distributed in Hokkaido and the prefectures of Aomori, Akita, 
Yamagata, Niigata, Toyama, Kyoto, Iwate, and Miyagi. Nine of 
these belong to the government of Hokkaido and other prefectures, 
while the rest are owned by fishing associations, individuals, or corpo- 
rations. The number of young salmon distributed by these hatch- 
eries amounts to over 80,000,000 a year. 

The largest hatchery is the one at Chitose, under the supervision of 
the Hokkaido Fishery Experimental Station. It was established in 
1887, and it is estimated that the fish distributed by it number from 
20,000,000 to 30,000,000 yearly. 

The salmon hatchery of Murakami, Nii^ata prefecture, dates as 
far back as 1881, when a regulation pertainmg to the preservation of 
young salmon in the River Miomote was enacted by the prefecture 
of Niigata. This was first called the "Murakami Salmon Raising 
Plant," but in 1891 it was turned into a hatchery, and is now dis- 
tributing 2,000,000 yoiing salmon a year. The salmon hatchery of 
Nitta River, Fukushima prefecture, is very similar in its history and 
organization to the above. 

The industry has during the last few years become very popular in 
Yamagata prefecture, where 22 hatcheries are in operation as private 
enterprises. 

In the prefectures of Shiga, Miye, Shizuoka, Nagano, Yarnanashi, 
Kanagawa, Akita, Niigata, Hyogo, Miyazaki, and Hokkaido, the 
masu (0. masou) and the landlocked hime-masu (0. nerka) are raised 
and distributed in the lakes and rivers. There are eight hatcheries 
working on these species. The hatchery of Lake Towada, Akita 
prefecture, first transplanted hime-masu from Hokkaido in 1902, 
and it is now hatching from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 eggs a year for 
the purpose of distributing the fish among the different districts. 

o 



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